Burley-in-Wharfedale Methodist Church is praying for a cash windfall after the cost of its redevelopment scheme soared into the heavens.

The Main Street-based church was hoping to obtain funding for a £350,000 redevelopment scheme.

The intention was to reconstruct and modernise the church interior and to sell the existing Sunday School building next door.

In December, church supporters were celebrating after the fundraising total reached £80,000. This was the figure needed to trigger a serious bid for substantial funding.

However, the church's services team - responsible for such projects - has received a nasty shock.

Ron Gray, chairman of the Burley-in-Wharfedale services team, said: "From about £350,000 we are now talking £575,000."

Mr Gray said the initial scheme had been drawn up about five years ago and it was now suffering the pressures of inflation.

"We are talking a lot of money here. With the £350,000 we thought we would eventually only need about £20,000 to £30,000 of extra funding. However, that situation has now changed," he said.

Money had been promised from the Methodist authorities, but Mr Gray said the Burley church would have to demonstrate it had other sources of money before the cash would be handed over.

Mr Gray said the Burley Church Council had ruled out applying for Lottery money, due to what he described as 'moral' objections, but new sources of funding would have to be found.

"There is no doubt it is a lot of money to find. The acid test was always going to come when we sat down and looked at the 'numbers' involved," he said.

Should the church find the extra money, the gallery will be enclosed as an upper floor, containing classrooms, a meeting room and a hall. The church pews will be replaced with chairs and the ground floor worship area and vestibule redesigned.

The redevelopment scheme was officially launched in June 1997 and since then, more than £80,000 has been raised through a variety of fundraising events, from flower shows to a Christmas market.

Mr Gray said anyone with several hundred thousand going spare would be most welcome to contribute towards the redevelopment scheme.

The scheme has the full backing of church minister, the Rev Philip Macdonald. He believes the scheme is 'the right way forward' for the

church.

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