A church will receive a £116,000 heritage lottery grant for a restoration project.

St. Christopher’s Church in Willingale, near Ongar, has been awarded the money to repair weather- eroded masonry and architectural features of the Grade II* listed building and install a new heating system.

The work is scheduled to begin at the start of May and be completed by mid July.

Jane Cass, church warden, said: “This beautiful building so deserves restoration and we’re delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund is providing this support. The new heating, along with all the other work that has been done inside, will make the church suitable for a wider range of activities.”