Campaigners today stepped up a £100,000 fundraising drive to safeguard the future of a historic church which is literally floating on collected rainwater.

St Mary the Virgin Church in Benfleet - one of the oldest in Essex - could deteriorate rapidly and collapse unless urgent roof and drainpipe repairs are carried out within the next six months.

The 12th century church is suffering from severe rain damage and rising damp.

Church warden Richard Cerson said: "English Heritage carried out a full structural survey and found some urgent repairs were needed.

"What's happening is that the rainwater is not all clearing away. It is collecting underneath the building giving us rising damp trouble internally and also settlement problems.

"The building is on the move."

Repairs in three phases will cost £140,000 altogether over eight years. Following a grant from English Heritage, there is £100,000 left to raise.

Phase one will cost £76,000 for major roof and drainage repairs, phase two will cost around £25,000, including a new toilet which needs to be connected to mains drainage, and the third phase includes work in the nave and plaster work.

Mr Cerson is chairman of the church fabric committee which is applying to many grant trusts for help.

There is £16,000 in the kitty from the church's 1100th birthday celebrations in 1994. Recently the parish fete raised £2,300 and a sponsored walk brought in another £1,000.

Mr Cerson added: "These repairs are a matter of urgent priority. If we didn't do them there would be severe deterioration to the fabric and the building would eventually fall down.

"However, it is not in danger of immediate collapse and it is quite safe. We want to preserve the church for future generations."

It is believed that a church, on the corner of Essex Way and High Street, Benfleet, has been on the site since as far back as 600 AD. The current foundations were laid in 893 AD as an act of thanksgiving after the Danes were defeated at the Battle of Benfleet.

Anyone keen to help can contact Mr Cerson on 01268 758374

In trouble - St Mary the Virgin, Benfleet

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