TWO churches have scooped nearly £300,000 after a worshipper left a legacy in her will.

The donation, which will help fund work at the churches in Frinton and Walton, has been hailed as a “godsend” by a vicar.

Evelyn Angel, of Holland Road, Frinton, left £278,372.60 to All Saints Church, in High Street, Walton, and St Mary’s Parish Church in Old Road, Frinton.

The churches received £139,186.30 each in proceeds from the sale of her house.

Rev Tim Fletcher, of All Saints Church, said Mrs Angel had chosen to give to the church because her family had been involved with the church choir.

The donation has allowed the church to press on with important renovation works.

He said: “An amount like this is very unusual. We have had other legacies, but not of this magnitude.

“It is significant for us and it makes a huge difference.

“If you think we have had a bill for £300,000 for the building of the wall, it has made a huge contribution for a church that is not particularly wealthy, in a not particularly wealthy area.

“We have had significant structural problems with the church, so this was a substantial help to get that done.

“It’s a godsend really.”

All Saints Church launched a campaign last year to raise more than £400,000 to modernise the building, which dates back to 1870.

The church, which suffered large cracks to its north wall, has now been underpinned and the restoration will include new windows, a creche and disabled access.

Mrs Angel passed away more than two years ago, but the donation has only just been handed to the churches.

Sarah Brown, legal executive at Ellisons solicitors, of Connaught Avenue, Frinton, said it was rare for such large legacies to be left.

She said: “It is quite a large legacy and we don’t usually see any that big.

“Large legacies are only common where there are no relatives or where a charity or an authority meant a great deal to them during their lifetime.”