A church which failed to qualify for a government scheme to restore religious buildings is looking to the heavens for at least £100,000 to repair its roof.

A church which failed to qualify for a government scheme to restore religious buildings is looking to the heavens for at least £100,000 to repair its roof.

St James’ Church in Woodley has a number of holes in its 1970s style flat roof which is leaking water.

Church officers and community members have so far raised more than £240,000 through loans and fund raising activities to save the building. But their prayers are yet to be answered as they struggle to reach the £400,000 benchmark to have the roof repaired.

The church has now turned to a local MP as it seeks to muster together the remaining funds to save building.

Church Vicar the Rev Nick Jackson said members are “upset” with the criteria for the government scheme.

He said: “It’s not a happy roof. The only thing we can do now is re-roof the whole thing.

“If you’re a listed building then you can get heritage funding, but we aren’t a listed building.

“It upsets us because we are providing a valuable community service.” The Kingfisher Drive church, which recorded a footfall of 36,000 people in 2013, hosts various community activities. It’s also home to the St James’ Church pre-school group.

Mr Jackson added that the church members have done all they can to secure the church’s future.

The 61-year-old said: “So far the church people have been donating money and we have raised about £145,000. We have also secured a ten-year-loan for £100,000 which the members will help repay.

“At this stage it isn’t too bad but if you get a heavy shower we will find a new leak.” Mr Jackson discovered a leak in the churches office last week which destroyed the office phone and computer mouse, narrowly missing the computer.

Mr Jackson added: “If we can’t get the money together, the longer it goes on the worse it can get. We worry that the water is going to get to the electrics which will become more problematic.” East Reading MP Rob Wilson visited the Kingfisher Drive church on June 26 to discuss funding options with its officers.

He said that government funding isn’t readily available, adding: “I have already contacted Wokingham Borough Council to enquire as to the possibility of a contribution, but understandably the money is simply not available.

“Furthermore, the building does not qualify for Lottery Funding, nor for the £15 million government scheme set up to restore listed religious buildings in need of repair.

“On first appearance it seems that St James’ falls through the cracks in terms of public funding, and that it must instead rely on generous donations from the local community.

I would therefore encourage anybody interested in supporting the project to contact the centre and discuss with the team what assistance can be offered.”