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Mr Bracewell pictured in front of Padiham Unitarian Church.

The congregation of Padiham Unitarian Church has asked for the support of an MP, Burnley Council and the Manpower Services Commission to save the church. The church, which was built in the middle of the 19th century, is in a sad state of disrepair and needs drastic overhauling. Repairs could amount to many thousands of pounds, but the cost will not be known until a Manchester firm, called in for the job, has evaluated the situation. In the meantime, the MP for Clitheroe, Mr David Waddington, has been approached to see if he can find out about the possibility of a Government grant.

One of the church organists, Mr Barry Brown, said: "We are contemplating re-roofing the building, because it is raining in and, generally speaking, extensive repairs are needed. The church needs painting, it wants new window frames, it needs re-plastering and the whole of the site wants clearing of vegetation, which has got out of hand. We hope that Burnley Corporation will be sponsors to the scheme". Mr Fred Bracewell, a trustee of the church said: "It all hangs on the estimate of the cost of the repairs". He said that Mr Waddington had approached the Department of the Environment about the possibility of a grant because the church is an old building in a conservation area.

More than £1,000 was raised at a Christmas sale of work at the church's Sunday School on Saturday afternoon, the 4th December 1982. Mr Waddington opened the event, which attracted more than 200 people. After the sale, a pantomime, written by church member Mrs Edna Holman, was held at the same venue. The humorous and musical show included snatches from several well-known pantos.