St James' Church on Heanor Road, a Grade-II listed building dating from the 1840s, is in desperate need of a new roof as the current one leaks.

English Heritage has offered to put forward £68,000 from its Heritage Lottery Fund, towards the £100,000 cost for the repairs, on the condition that the congregation raises the other £32,000 by next February.

Dorothy Wood, assistant church warden, said there had been problems with the church for a number of years.

"If we do not raise this amount by February 2009 then we lose the in-principle offer, have to pay costs amounting to £10,000 and ultimately lose the church as the roof is literally falling off.' said Mrs Wood.

"With no roof there will be no building on which to focus our attention and within which to celebrate and remember key life events."

So far around £15,000 has been raised and the church are now organising a number of fundraising events to come up with the £17,000 that is still needed to fund the church roof.

A special weekend of celebrations for St James' Day will take place at the church on the weekend of July 26 and 27 and on the Saturday the church will be open for crafts and cream teas with a fundraisng concert by friends and neighbours. A cricket match will also be held on the Sunday at the former Codnor Miners Welfare ground.

Mrs Wood added: ""There will be little to celebrate if we have not raised sufficient money for English Heritage to agree to continue with their support."