A CHEPSTOW church with an uncertain future was thrown a lifeline after it was awarded around £100,000 of funding to repair its leaking roof.

Fundraisers for St Arvan's Church are delighted they now have more than half of the money needed for the works, which include fixing leaking windows and repairing timbers.

This was after the community got behind the project, holding events to help out the historic building and its congregation.

With a colourful history- the circular nature of the churchyard indicates it is a Celtic site from the ninth century, churchgoers decided its history must be preserved for future generations.

So church warden David Priddis put together the Heritage Lottery Fund bid, and they were told recently it had been successful.

Its future had been in doubt, as water seeping in was seriously damaging the church's fabrics.

Now they know they are getting the money, Mr Priddis said the whole congregation is buoyed by the news.

"It's really exciting for us," he said. "The church has been becoming increasingly difficult and without the money its future would have been put into jeopardy."

The church council has selected Abergavenny conservation architect, Stefan Horowskyj, of Morgan and Horowskyj to design and supervise the work.

The initial part of the grant will allow the design to proceed and the works to go to tender.

As well as Sunday worship, the church hosts regular concerts and a number of radio broadcasts have been made, including a live service on Palm Sunday, on BBC Radio 4.

Over the next few months, fundraising will continue for the repairs, with a summer fete on June 11, at St Arvans memorial hall, the first big event planned.

It is hoped the repairs will begin later this year.