THE ST Mary?s Church Appeal at Belstone has been given a terrific boost, thanks to a £3,000 donation from the Historic Churches Preservation Trust. Belstone Parochial Church Council received confirmation last week that the Preservation Trust will make the contribution towards the £18,000 cost of urgently needed repairs. The PCC launched the appeal in December after an architect?s report identified urgent repairs were needed to the roof, internal plaster, Victorian tiles and electrics as well as a complete overhaul of the organ. With around two-thirds of the money already raised, the work is well underway and all but the decorating should be completed very shortly. The Historic Churches Preservation Trust is the only national charity offering funds to communities for essential repairs to churches and chapels in England and Wales, regardless of denomination and grade. Founded in 1951, the organisation has since awarded £23.1 million in grants despite receiving no financial assistance from either government or church authorities. The Trust exists entirely on voluntary contributions and has the declared aim of ?Keeping Churches Alive?. Local resident and fundraiser Simon Herbert said everybody connected with the church was ?absolutely delighted and amazed? by the response to the appeal so far and he said it showed that ?local people feel very strongly about the church?. Belstone PCC is planning an auction of a wide variety of lots on the evening of September 30. In the meantime, Simon Herbert has a large supply of logs for sale, with all proceeds going straight to the appeal. He can be contacted on 01837 840693 for further details.