A vicar is calling on parishioners to support her church this year.

The Rev Liz Thomas hopes people will help members of Denholme's St Paul's church find a new place of worship.

During the last 18 months, the church has found it difficult to attract more parishioners to its temporary home in the village Mechanics Institute. the old hilltop church building is ravaged with dry rot and rep-airs would be too expensive.

The Rev Thomas and members of the Parochial Church Council (PCC) met the Bishop of Bradford, the Rt Rev David Smith, before Christmas to discuss the future of the church. the bishop told them there was no chance at present of the Diocese or any other body lending the church money to buy land or start building a new place of worship.

According to the Rev Thom-as, the Diocese will not loan the church any money while the church is financially in debit with its day-to-day running costs. The church owes the Diocese money in unpaid Share Allocation, which has accumulated over the last 18 months. With a congregation of around 20 people, the church has been failing to meet its budget. In effect it is being subsidised by other christians in the Bradford Diocese.

In the past, the church has been able to rely on donations from benefactors, but many of these have dried up.

The Rev Thomas says: "There is no way we can start building a new place of worship until we are on a better financial footing. The money that we have in the renewal fund - which totals around £10,000 - will remain there untouched and accumulating interest until such time as we are viable."

St Paul's PCC has already identified two possible sites in Denholme which have the potential for development.

The church must now get back on an even financial keel before it can consider looking at any new development.

The old church building, known affectionately as the 'Minster on the Hill', has been closed for the last 18 months. Dry rot has ravaged the 150-year-old building, which would need in the region of £250,000 to make it structurally sound.

The problem for some parishioners is the use of the Mechanics Institute, which some feel lacks the atmosphere of a traditional place of worship. The Rev Thomas adds: "We have to remember that the Church isn't a place, it is the body of people who worship together. The hope has not gone from the church and the PCC continues to work very hard, but we need an injection of enthusiasm."

The Churches Together in Denholme scheme continues to be a success, and the Rev Thomas says there are plans for more social and ecumenical events with Denholme Edge Church.

Until it finds a new home, the congregation will continue to worship in the Blue Room of the Mechanics Institute. Services- are held every Sunday at 10.30am.

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