RAYLEIGH'S parish church has been given a £20,000 boost thanks to the efforts of a fundraising group.
As president of the Friends of Holy Trinity Church, Tory MP Mark Francois presented the cheque.
The group, set up just over ten years ago, has raised more than £169,000 for the upkeep of the building in the High Street.
The latest sum came through a number of initiatives last year, including a tower open day in May, a concert in June and the Rayleigh Garden Trail in August. The latter alone raised more than £5,000.
Mr Francois said: "Holy Trinity Church is a historic landmark in Rayleigh, but because of this it is expensive to maintain.
"Given this, the Friends play an important role in helping to sustain and enhance the building, not just for the congregation, but for the benefit of the community as a whole."
Anyone interested in joining the group, which has 400 members, should call the secretary, Marion Smith, on 01268 747226.
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