A HISTORIC church is raising money for its restoration by laying on tasty fry-ups.

The first Saturday of every month sees a host of hungry residents gather at Holy Trinity Church, at the top of Rayleigh High Street, to enjoy a sociable cooked breakfast.

Church members are cooking these breakfasts to raise money for the tower and window appeal and say it is becoming an increasingly successful event.

For just £2.50, visitors can tuck into a full English breakfast of egg, bacon, sausage, beans, hash browns, tomatoes and mushrooms.

Sharon Hawkins, from Peregrine Gardens, went to the most recent breakfast on November 8, which raised more than £650.

She said “We’ve been to every breakfast so far. It’s excellent quality.”

So far, the appeal has raised £14,000 with more than 10 per cent coming from the breakfasts. The next breakfast is on December 6, and the first breakfast in 2009 will be on February 7.

Holy Trinity is a 600-year-old Grade II listed building, and the east side of the tower and the windows facing south are in serious need of repair.