Haworth Parish Church has received a substantial boost to its campaign to restore its electrical wiring and modernise its lighting system.

The historic building has been given a grant of £2,925 from Allchurches Trust.

Just two years after completing a £600,000 restoration of the church's Victorian roof and spending more than £60,000 on a new central heating system, custodians of the property were stunned to discover the electrical system needed to be replaced.

The shock of discovering the whole building needed rewiring has led its congregation to develop a plan to enhance the building.

And the latest grant will help them light up hidden features of the parish church, as poor-lighting and accumulated grime had made 19th century murals difficult to see.

“We are re-imagining the interior of the church,” said its rector, the Reverend Peter Mullins. "If we can pull off the re-wiring and re-lighting programme then redecorate, it’ll look better than it ever has done.”

During the last nine years £750,000 has been raised and spent to repair the church’s roofs and ensure both full access and proper toilet facilities for the disabled.

Responding to the Allchurches Trust grant, Rev Mullins added: “We are hugely grateful to them for this significant contribution, and to people like our churchwarden Peter Breed and treasurer Averil Kenyon who have worked hard to ensure all the finances and permissions are in place to undertake the work later this year.

“The trust previously backed our roof restoration project and, without their generous support, it would be very difficult for us to undertake these major works.

"This latest work is part of our Five Year Plan to restore the church and make it fit to continue in its service to the community for the next 100 years."

Allchurches Trust is one of the UK's largest grant-making charities and gave a record £16.9 million to churches, charities and communities in 2018. Its funds come from its ownership of Ecclesiastical Insurance Group.

Paul Playford, grants officer at the trust, said: “This gem of a church in Haworth is of significant historical interest, having a special place in the hearts of literature lovers, as well as its local community.

“I’m delighted that we’ve been able to add to our previous support by helping to fund this vital electrical work. It will ensure the church can remain a safe and welcoming place for people coming to visit and to worship.”

Haworth Parish Church is well known for its connection to the literary Brontë family. This year it is the 200th anniversary of Rev Patrick Brontë – father to Charlotte, Emily and Anne – being appointed as perpetual curate to Haworth Parish Church.

Restoration work and fundraising for the building has been ongoing since 2010. For more details about the property visit haworthchurch.co.uk or the Haworth Church page on Facebook.