A church dating back to the 12th century has been saved from closure after receiving nearly £250,000 in grants to completely replace the damaged roof.

St Paul’s Parish Church inWooburn Town, has been granted £244,700 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to replace the roof after the building was placed on English Heritage’s ‘at risk’ register.

Concerns among parishioners grew as cracks in the aluminium roof, paired with a Death Watch Beetle infestation in the timbers could have caused the building to deteriorate forcing it to be closed down.

However, thanks to the grant the repairs, which will begin on Monday, October 26, should be completed in time for Easter 2016.

Vicar of St Paul’s, Rev Martin Wallington said he was ‘delighted’ with the grant, without which the repairs would have been impossible.

He said: “We’re delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has given us this support which will secure the future of our church for the next 100 years so that our children and grandchildren can continue to both enjoy and use the building.”

Stuart McLeod, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund South East England, said: “Churches are often the historic heart of communities they have served for many centuries and, thanks to National Lottery players, we are able to support this project that will help to preserve this ancient building."

The church will be closed during the time of repair, but will use St Paul’s church hall and the Pastoral Centre of St Mary’s, Glory Mill Lane while the work takes place.

A medieval building, St Paul's was extensively altered by the Gothic Revival architect William Butterfield in 1869.