THE congregation of an ancient church in Edmonton which dates back the 12th Century is celebrating the building's 875th anniversary with a sponsored walk.

All Saints Parish Church, a Grade II* listed building in Church Street, can trace its origins back to 1136 when Geoffrey de Mandeville endowed it to monks living at Walden Abbey, in Essex.

To celebrate the milestone, the congregation wants to honour its historic link by doing a sponsored 42-mile walk from Edmonton to the market town of Saffron Walden on April 30.

The money raised will be donated to the church for its £500,000 restoration project, which includes stonework and roof repairs after it found itself on English Heritage's historical buildings at-risk register.

Reverend Stuart Owen said: "It is a beautiful church with lots of history. It's one of the oldest buildings in Edmonton, if not Enfield, and we really want to ensure we get it preserved. It is structurally sound, but the external stone masonry is wearing away.

"We have been awarded a few grants, but are still way off our half-a-million pound target. I'm a keen walker and thought this might be a memorable way to celebrate our 875th anniversary and fundraise at the same time."

Victorian essayist and writer Charles Lamb and his sister Mary Lamb, who together produced Tales from Shakespeare, are both buried in the church cemetery. They lived in Bay Cottage, just metres from All Saints.

During the walk, a team of drivers will meet the 20 walkers, 11 of whom are representing the church, every few miles to serve food and drink to ensure the volunteers have to carry as little as possible along the countryside route.