A PROJECT by the villagers of Meeth to preserve their historic village church for generations to come has this week won vital support from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

Meeth Parochial Church Council has received initial support from the HLF for the restoration of the church tower project.

The project is aiming to restore St Michael and All Angels Church's tower and bells, install new kitchen and toilet facilities and encourage more people to be part of the church's heritage.

Development funding of £18,900 has also been awarded to help the PCC progress their plans to apply for a full grant at a later date.

The project aims to carry out essential conservation work and improve its facilities so the church can be used for more events and occasions.

The PCC is particularly keen to encourage people to take up bell ringing and also to find volunteers to help in a history project to find out more about the church's heritage.

Ingrid Dodd, church warden, said: 'A small church with a large problem would be hard-pressed to find the money to repair the tower and bells if it were not for the Heritage Lottery Fund.

'When it rains and the wind blows from the west – so very often here in Devon – the water pours through the walls of Meeth Church tower into the building.

'Investigations have revealed large voids causing damage to the stonework and our floor tiles.

'We aim to preserve our heritage for future generations and to encourage more people to visit and become involved in our heritage and the art of bell-ringing — new facilities will help us to achieve this.'

The church is a focal point for the local community.

Meeth was one of the earliest Christian settlements. A recent archaeological investigation showed rare evidence of an earlier Saxon church and medieval remains. The church has Listed medieval and Johannes Stadler bells, a beautiful plaster arms of Queen Anne, listed tombs and memorials and medieval floor tiles.

Heritage Grants applications are assessed in two rounds.

A first-round pass is given when the Heritage Lottery Fund has endorsed outline proposals and earmarked funding. A first-round pass may also include an immediate award to fund the development of the project as in this case.

Detailed proposals are then considered by the HLF at second-round and as long as plans have progressed satisfactorily and according to the original proposal, an award for the project is confirmed.

The announcement of the funding gives a huge boost to a fundraising initiative launched last August by the PCC and villagers to raise money for the vital restoration work the church needs.

It is the latest step in the church's long history and mirrors a fundraising campaign in the 1600s to raise money for the church's conservation.

On July 12, 1692, the minister, church wardens and inhabitants of Meeth wrote a petition to the Lord Bishop of Exeter stating that the tower of Meeth's parish church was in a 'very ruinous condition', and appealing for funds to help pay for 'skillful workmen' to carry out important repairs.

The HLF has supported other church restoration works in the area including St James' Church in Jacobstowe, the Parish Church of St Peter Ad Vincula in Ashwater and St Andrew's in South Tawton.