A PRIEST has described a £7,000 grant for toilets at a church as a "blessing".

The National Churches Trust Community Grant to St Barnabas Church in Colchester, means it can fully update its comfort facilities.

St Barnabas, which is Grade I listed and dates back to the Norman era, is one of 54 churches and chapels in the UK and Northern Ireland set to benefit from funding of £310,060 from the trust.

The Rev John Richardson said: “This new facility of an accessible toilet will be a huge blessing to our church at Great Tey. 

“It will mean visitors, worshippers, and user groups of all kinds can find at the church a much-needed facility which all can use. 

“The church is deeply grateful to the National Churches Trust for their support of this project through grant funding. 

“The toilet fits well into the existing fabric of the church and has been sensitively designed by the church’s architect to be unobtrusive and yet accessible to all.”

There are currently no toilet facilities at the village church.

A beautiful building, standing prominently in the centre of the village, the building is of great interest to visitors and locals alike.

The centre tower dominates the village and the roof is said to be one of the highest points in Essex.

Broadcaster Huw Edwards, who is also vice-president of the National Churches Trust, said: “At the heart of communities in cities, towns and villages, churches are a treasure trove of architecture, history and faith.”

“I’m delighted St Barnabas will remain at the centre of its community as this grant will help ensure the future of a historic church."