The congregation at a Stoak church is raising the roof following extensive restoration works.

St Lawrence Church has successfully completed a year-long campaign of fundraising and applying for grants to reach the �134,000 required to bring the Grade II listed, 19th century sandstone building back to its former glory.

As part of the restoration, an opportunity has been taken to place a hard drive time capsule in the rafters.

The church says this will provide future generations with an insight into Ellesmere Port as it is today through videos, photographs, testimonials, newspaper cuttings and street maps.

Previously, apart from loose slates on the roof due to rusty and worn pins, there were deathwatch beetles, woodworm and rot found in timbers, and some stonework needed attention around windows and on some walls.

A new ceiling was also needed for the church, which was built in the early 19th century and restored in the early 20th century.

The launch of the fundraising drive last summer saw an event attended by the Sheriff of Chester, with live music and a hog roast.

Other activities included a concert with a male voice choir in the autumn with large events on a monthly basis and other smaller fundraisers.

The church made a number of successful funding applications, receiving grants from eight bodies including The Church Commissioners, the English Heritage Lottery Fund and The National Churches Trust.

It was thought the congregation would need to raise about �60,000 of their own money, although the final figure is not yet known.

The church closed after this year’s Easter Sunday service, with the congregation moving to Little Stanney Village Hall.

The work was completed on time earlier this month and members of the congregation turned up with mops, buckets, dusters, polish and elbow grease to carry out a big clean-up before the first service on Sunday August 11 – “quite auspicious as August 10 is actually the feast day of St Lawrence,” said Dot Renshaw for the church.

Following the event, 40 worshippers enjoyed their usual coffee and cake.

There will be a special service on Sunday, October 6, with the Bishop of Birkenhead, the Rt Rev Keith Sinclair, to celebrate the work which has been done.

Representatives from all the organisations that have given grants are to be invited.