A HEREFORDSHIRE church with acting and automobile connections is to benefit from a major grant.

The Grade II listed St Peter and Paul church in Stoke Lacy will receive £15,000 from a National Churches Trust Repair Grant to help make it watertight by funding urgent repairs to the roof and spire.

The county church is one of 77 churches and chapels in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to benefit from a total of £429,211 in the latest round of grants.

The wooden shingles covering the spire have become rotten and further damage has been caused by nesting jackdaws and woodpeckers.

As a result, water and detritus from the birds is coming through, damaging the steeple and stopping bells from being rung.

Meanwhile, crumbling and dislodged slates have opened up holes on the roof, allowing water to fall through on to the pews below.

Now the work, identified as urgent in 2016, will repair the roof and spire and replace gutters and drains in order to prevent damp.

Wildlife habitats will be identified and developed in the churchyard while a new herb garden is in the planning stages for the churchyard.

The church, which is thought to date back to the 12th century, attracts visitors from around the world because of its association with the Morgan motor car.

HFS Morgan, who invented the Morgan three-wheeler in 1909, grew up in the rectory of Stoke Lacy – his father and grandfather were rectors in the church for 66 years.

The Morgan family graves are to be found in the graveyard. Stained glass windows in the porch pay tribute to the connection, depicting several of the famous Morgan cars as well as Peter Morgan, the son of HFS, who became chairman of the Morgan Motor Company.

The architect who rebuilt the church in 1863 was FR Kempson, a direct ancestor to the Redgrave acting family whose father was also rector there.

Clive Evans, vicar of Stoke Lacy, said: “This generous grant ensures that we can complete the major and urgent aspect of our building restoration work – we are relieved and very grateful to the National Churches Trust.”

"I’m delighted that St Peter and St Paul church, is being helped with a £15,000 National Churches Trust grant," said broadcaster and journalist Huw Edwards who is vice-president of the trust.

"The urgent repairs to the spire and roof will secure the future of a beautiful and fascinating church.”