A GRANDMOTHER has launched a fundraising campaign to save a dilapidated church after the vicar offered to baptise her poorly granddaughter for free.

Kay Sherman, 53, was so touched by the kind response from the Rev Andrei Petrine when she approached him about having one year-old Renee’s christening at St Nicholas Church, in Church Hill, Laindon, that she is urging people to dig deep to stop its roof from collapsing.

The church congregation holds weekly prayers for Renee after hearing about her battle with Metopic Suture Craniosynostosis, a condition where the skull does not fuse properly, meaning the brain struggles to grow.

In return, Mrs Sherman, of Lombardy Close, Pitsea, has launched the FundaMemory for St Nicholas campaign, where she is urging residents to put a price on the treasured moments they have had at the historic church.

She said: “It all started when I put something about the christening on the Basildon Memories Facebook page, and all these posts came flooding in.

“I only really go to church for weddings or midnight mass at Christmas, but St Nicholas is so beautiful and it would be such a shame if we lost it.

“My own memory of the church is of me and sister going up there when we were about six or eight years old, and I gave her a toadstool to eat without realising it was poisonous. Luckily she was OK, and I thought that has got to be worth £10.

“If everyone with a memory donated even £1 we would be able to make a huge difference.”

Renee is due to undergo surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital, in London, in the coming weeks as she has started to lose her balance as a result of her condition.

The christening has been put on hold until she has recovered.

Mrs Sherman added: “I know I’m biased, but she’s such a lovely little lady.”

WOODPECKERS’ DAMAGE CAUSING ROOF TO ROT FEARS

were raised earlier this year the roof at St Nicholas Church is close to collapsing because it has fallen into such a state of disrepair.

Parishoners at the Laindon church have already raised more than £40,000 towards much-needed work, but they desperately need more cash.

During an inspection in March, church warden Peter Hartgrove discovered the timber beams had began to rot.

Two years ago, woodpeckers created holes in the roof, and the problems have worsened due to rain seeping in.

If the timbers go completely, it will just be the main beam holding the whole building up.

The church congregation initially estimated the major refurbishment project would cost £112,000 – but they now fear it could be much more.

Plans for the listed building, which dates back to the 12th century, also include adding a weathercock to the spire, adding masonry at the base of the entrance steps, reconstructing retaining walls, resurfacing concrete paths, revamping the spire and recladding the tower walls.