PARISHIONERS are celebrating after securing a �29,000 grant to help improve their church.
Work has begun on refurbishing Salem Methodist Church, in Smallthorne, 10 years after fund-raising started.
Church members started collecting money to pay for a new building at the site in Ford Green Road but when planning permission was refused settled for refurbishment work instead.
Over the years they have raised �140,000 and won a �38,000 grant from Coalfields Regeneration Trust towards the project.
Now they are celebrating after being awarded �29,000 from Staffordshire Environmental Fund, which has given them enough cash to get the work up and running.
Scaffolding has already gone up at the church and its transformation is expected to take until April.
Parishioners believe the refurbishment will not only attract new members to the church, but also provide a boost to the Smallthorne community.
Gary Bennett, aged 53, from Congleton, treasurer of the church's fund-raising committee, said: "We're really pleased that work is finally starting on the church.
"It has been hard to keep going with fund-raising for such a long time."
The work will include new windows, a new boiler and central heating and some rewiring.
A block will be built at the back to provide toilets and a kitchen.
The work will also involve making the building more accessible to disabled people.
This includes putting in an access ramp, altering elevations at the front and installing a lift to the kitchen.
Kendall Prosser, aged 66, from Smallthorne, who applied for the grant, said: "Everything is being done with disability in mind but a lot of work is being done to improve the general state of the premises."
Parishioner John Palmer, aged 70, from Sneyd Green, said: "The chapel is extensively used but hasn't been disability-friendly up to yet.
"All this work isn't just for the people of Salem, but the community of Smallthorne.
"It's their church and we want to make it better for them."
A church has stood on the site since 1838, and the current building dates back to 1874.
Around 30 people attend Sunday service there each week.
Groups who use the church building include a history class, the Boys' Brigade and Smallthorne Residents' Association.
But church-goer Olwen Brooks, from Leek, added: "We hope the church will be used for community activities and attract new members afterwards."
Among the other organisations to benefit from money from the Staffordshire Environmental Fund is Biddulph Grange.
The National Trust has been awarded �5,782 to help create a woodland walk for young visitors.
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