The ancient church of St Oswalds sits in the centre of Askrigg in the Yorkshire Dales; a village which is, of course, best known for being used as Darrowby in the original All Creatures Great and Small TV series.

This beautiful church was built in the 15th century and is a Grade I listed structure. Its elevated position means that the driving rain coming along the Dale hits the west and south side of the church tower and, consequently, the church tower is wet, inside and out. An inspection with a mobile hoist showed that there are numerous small holes, cracks and crevices in the stonework and pointing; some of which have allowed vegetation to grow on the surface.

The walls are filled with moisture, and patches of green algae stain the inside of the tower base, ringing chamber and belfry. At all levels the timbers are damp and rotten. The bell ropes and the clock mechanism are both seriously affected by the moisture. In extreme weather, water runs down the inside of the tower into the church.

Expert opinion has been sought on ways to improve the situation and it appears that the tower was rendered in the past. This method of weather protection is recognised as being used historically in Yorkshire and Historic England consider rendering to be the most effective method of resisting water ingress through stone walls.

Permission to render the tower has been granted and supported by the Church of England, the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Historic England and the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings.

So far, we have raised £70,000 in offline donations but our church is in urgent need of help, beyond the ability of a small village. Please help us to keep this historic landmark, part of our national heritage, open and dry.