A RESCUE scheme for Greater Manchester's crumbling churches has been so successful it is going nationwide.

In the five years since Tim Hatton was appointed historic church buildings officer, many churches have been given a new lease of life.

Now the scheme, in which church support officers are at first part funded by the government, is being extended to other parts of the country. Mr Hatton was appointed 'guardian angel' to Greater Manchester churches in 2003, and his job was part subsidised by English Heritage until 2007 when the diocese took over the funding. He is one of seven people who have piloted the scheme around the country, using his engineering and project management skills to help rescue churches by persuading English Heritage and other organisations to give grants.

Vandals

St Clements, Ordsall, Salford, a Grade 2 church built in 1878 by Paley and Austin, was closed for worship for two years. Vandals had smashed 300 panes of glass, water was pouring through a hole in the vestry roof, the south aisle needed re-roofing, and there was dry rot. Repairs cost about £200,000 funded by insurance and grants. The church is now back at the heart of the community with a regular congregation of up to 40. Another Grade 2 listed Victorian church, St Stephen and All Martyrs on the outskirts of Oldham town centre, had been unused since 1999 because of structural problems. Originally built in 1873 for cotton workers to worship, the fabric of the building had badly deteriorated, and it suffered from dry rot. Grants of £350,000 enabled it to reopen in 2007.

Gem

An architectural gem, the Grade 1 listed St Mary church in Radcliffe dates back to the 13th century. It needed £250,000 spending on a leaking roof and gutter repairs.

The tower was falling down at the 1880 Grade 2 listed St Margaret's at Hollinwood, Oldham, so the main door could not be used. It was repaired with a grant of £180,000. At the Grade 2 listed 1871 church of St Peter, Newbold, Rochdale, there was a big hole in the roof, which cost nearly £400,000 to repair.

'Asset'

Mr Hatton said: "I tell people that these beautiful buildings are an asset, not a burden." The Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Rev. Nigel McCulloch said: "Tim has been invaluable in helping us understand the historic and architectural importance of the churches in our care and what we can achieve to make them fit for worship and community use in the 21st century.

"He works with parishes to help them access funding for heritage repairs. Most importantly, he helps parishes to grasp new possibilities for their church building and to deal with sometimes difficult decisions." In the new initiative Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, announced that English Heritage is making available £1.5 million to part-fund 30 support officers to help congregations of all faiths manage and maintain their historic places of worship.

'Unique'

English Heritage will cover 50 per cent of the total costs of a support officer post for three years, just like it did with Mr Hatton. Mr Burnham said: "I have always believed that our historic places of worship are unique in what they offer, representing at the same time the finest of the country's built heritage, and the heritage of ordinary people in every community.

"Even today, our places of worship continue to pull their local communities together, providing the landmarks by which we navigate, and helping us in times of need or celebration." The Manchester-based North West Multi Faith Tourism Association is one of the first organisations in England to sign up for one of the new posts. Chairman Malcolm Stonestreet said: "Heritage is vital at a community level if the diverse peoples of the north west region are to find their roots, settle into their communities and live lives that will lead to growth and peace.

"Our heritage is made up of magnificent Christian buildings which have stood for years as focus points for all around them and of mosques, gudwaras, temples and synagogues which bring their own story amongst us. Our support officer will enable these places to be open and to offer good interpretation and hospitality. Heritage at this level has a vital role to play in community cohesion."