One of the oldest churches in the borough is seeking to raise nearly a million pounds to preserve the historic building.

All Saints Church, in Church Street, Edmonton, has been standing since the 15th century and is a listed building, putting it in the top ten per cent of UK buildings for importance and value.

However, the church tower and roof were put on the Historical Building Risk Register in 2010 with the tower requiring major repairs to its crumbling external masonry.

Describing it as the jewel of the borough, Edmonton MP Andy Love accompanied Bishop of Edmonton, Reverend Peter Wheatley to the church to support the launch of a project to preserve the building and launch a friends group.

Bishop Wheatley said: “All Saints Church is the oldest building in Edmonton and has been at the heart of the community for centuries. The Friends of All Saints is being founded with plans to open the church more for exhibitions and other community events and to help raise the huge sum needed for its restoration.”

The church has applied to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a grant of £220,000 to help with repairs as well as staging sponsored walks, table top sales and organ recitals to raise funds.

After restoring the tower, All Saints will turn its attention to repairing the leaking church roof.