ONE of Southend’s oldest churches has received a £48,600 boost from the Heritage Lottery Fund Holy Trinity, in Southchurch Boulevard, has been given the grant to carry out urgent repairs to its crumbling spire, The project will involve replacing shingle and repairing timber.

A leaking gutter will also be fixed, along with metal fittings on the church.

The project will include historical research about the building, which will be shared with the local community through a new church guide.

The building is one of the oldest in Southend, with parts dating from Norman times.

It is the church that gives its name to Southchurch.

It is hoped the project will encourage more people to visit and make use of the beautiful, ancient church.

The Rev Tom Lilley the recentlyappointed rector, said: “We are delighted this grant has been given by the Heritage Lottery Fund to make urgent repairs to the spire.

“As we seek to maintain the fabric of this Grade II-listed church that is at the heart of the Southchurch community, this important work will ensure Holy Trinity can continue to be an important symbol of God’s presence to all the people of Southend.”

Robyn Llewellyn, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund East of England, said: “The physical repairs will ensure the church is made weathertight and secure, while the historical aspect of the project will contribute to the understanding of early Christianity in south Essex and how this historic building and its predecessors have played a central role in the local community for so many centuries.”