CLAIMS that the Church of England has washed its hands of an historic church in Princetown have been dismissed by a group trying to pump new life into the crumbling building

Dartmoor Preservation Association claims St Michael's and All Angels Church will become a 'roofless ruin' unless urgent work is undertaken. It was built by French and American prisoners of war held captive in Dartmoor Prison but has stood empty for several years.

DPA chief executive John Bainbridge said: 'This much-loved church has stood empty for too long and we are dismayed the Church of England appears to have washed its hands of it.

'This church building is a unique part, not only of Dartmoor's history, but of the history of England, France and America.'

Mr Bainbridge said every day the church stands empty means the repair bill will increase. He said the DPA would bring pressure on the church, Dartmoor National Park Authority and the French and American governments to make a 'positive commitment' to save the church.

'Its restoration would also be a pledge for the prosperous future of Princetown of which the church is a key part,' he added.

But The Rev Tim Woods, chairman of the St Michael's Princetown Project Trust, said far from forgetting the building, church authorities are 'actively working' with the trust to resurrect St Michael's as a study centre.

He said: 'The feasibility study is completed on the transformation of the church — the cost of rebuilding it simply to re-open safely is absolutely colossal. It's likely to be in excess of £250,000.

'The walls are shot to bits, there is dry rot, it's practically a ruin. All round, the building is just unsafe.'

Mr Woods said the trust still felt 'very positive' about the church's future, although the project would be 'much longer-term' than originally hoped.

He said the trust was still seeking sponsors and supporters, including funds from overseas.

'It is far from dead in the water — we have had some very positive contacts from people in the United States who we approached for help.

'We are still waiting for a letter from them, but it's not as easy as the DPA seem to think,' said Mr Woods.

'The Church of England has been enormously supportive, as have the Duchy and Dartmoor National Park.

'Meetings are still taking place in London and Devon towards funding the future of the church.'

Mr Woods was hopeful a decision would be made by the autumn on what basic work to begin first.

'The big, big difficulty is cash — we would be delighted if the DPA would work with us on this,' Mr Woods added.

Trust project officer Simon Taylor has now moved to Princetown and is organising events to raise the project's profile and much needed income.

'We are organising a few "quiet days" in July and a couple of walks we are billing as pilgrimages,' said Mr Taylor.

'There will also be a regular opportunity for worship starting next month, relevant to environmental concerns which will be inspired by the remoteness and stillness of Dartmoor.'

The eventual aim of the St Michael's Princetown Project is to open the Grade II* listed church as a pioneering study centre, linking Christianity and its different denominations with the environment and conservation.

The trust hopes a residential centre would also add to the prosperity of Princetown as a whole.

The project was granted charity status last year.