A CHURCH is to embark on a £280,000 renovation project to keep it at the heart of the local community.

But Holmfirth Methodist Church needs the public’s help to complete the ambitious scheme.

Contractors are due to start work on Monday to revamp the community meeting rooms.

The church has raised £260,000 but needs to find another £20,000 due to the increased cost of steelwork.

The church now wants local people to help make up the shortfall by buying a tile for the roof at £10 each.

Project manager Peter Beetlestone said: “This is an exciting time for the church.

“The raising of the £260,000 was fairly bloodless but we now have a significant shortfall because we need more steelwork than originally anticipated and the cost of steel has risen.

“We now hope that families whose lives have been touched by Holmfirth Methodist Church will support us by sponsoring a tile.”

The project, which involves creating two large community rooms and three smaller meeting rooms, has been two years in the planning.

The bulk of the cost was raised by the sale of a cottage next to the church.

The cottage was rented out for many years but the church decided to sell when the tenant passed away.

Other funds came from legacies, donations and various events.

Many of the outside groups which hire space at the church have moved to temporary new homes for the summer.

Building work is scheduled to run until the end of July with completion in September.

The worship area of the church is unaffected and the church’s own groups will also continue to meet there.

The Thursday coffee mornings will also continue along with the Saturday afternoon tea and cakes in the summer.

Mr Beetlestone said it was hoped the improvements would encourage even more local groups to use the church facilities.

The biggest new room will seat 100 people while the other will accommodate another 70.

“This will keep us at the heart of the local community and we need a last push from local people to help us complete our plans,” said Mr Beetlestone.

Anyone wanting to sponsor a tile can send a cheque for £10, made payable to: Holmfirth Methodist Church, to church treasurer Michael Tolson, Holmfirth Methodist Church, School Street, Holmfirth, HD9 7EQ.