For more than a century the red sandstone tower of Old Christ Church in Waterloo, Merseyside, has guided sailors into the Mersey Estuary, standing steadfastly against the gales which regularly blow in off the Irish Sea. However, after over a hundred more years of being buffeted by the harsh salt winds off the Liverpool Bay, much of the soft sandstone has perished, and the tower stonework needs urgent help. Last month, the church was added to the Historic England’s Heritage At Risk Register as the building began to become structurally unsafe. Now it needs your help.

Today, The Churches Conservation Trust is launching a nationwide appeal to the public to save the historic landmark. Urgent repairs to the church are scheduled to cost £331,000, of which £268,215 has already been raised. We need your help to raise the final £62,785 so that work can begin to save this historic piece of Merseyside heritage, and keep it open to the public and available to serve the community. With your help there is hope.

Regarded by Pevsner as one of the finest churches by celebrated Lancashire architects Paley, Austin and Paley, Old Christ Church is home to impressive stained glass by Shrigley and Hunt. The church has been in the care of The Churches Conservation Trust since 1998, and since 2006, the Friends of Old Christ Church have been working to transform the building into a venue for farmers markets, beer festivals, art exhibitions and seasonal fairs, at the heart of local life, and we want that to continue.

Crispin Truman, Chief Executive of The Churches Conservation Trust, said: “The Heritage At Risk Register identifies buildings in danger of being lost forever, so the fact that Old Christ Church has now been added is a major cause for concern.

"The church has been the heart of the community for hundreds of years and since it came into our care in 1998 it has become a popular local venue for fairs, festivals and markets. However, all that will have to stop if we can’t find the money to conduct these urgent repairs.

"We hope that with the help of the public we will be able to raise the final £62,785 we need to ensure this church can retain its positive role at the heart of local life.”