From the left, Mr Chippendale and Mr Moore against the back-cloth of Altham Parish Church.

Altham's lone bid to save its tiny 13th-century church from closure has won the admiration of neighbouring parishes. The decision to fight on, taken by Altham's Parochial Church Council, means that parishioners may face a repair bill of £3,000 plus - but this has not deterred residents. Not least among them are 59-year-old Mr David Easington Downham Moore and 33-year-old Mr Thomas Chippendale, both of Burnley Road, Altham. Mr Moore, a builder by trade, and Mr Chippendale, who is in business as a plaster, both have strong links with the church and have taken the lead in volunteering their labour free of charge for any work which has to be done on the building.

Altham Parochial Church Council and friends of both the church and the school, are to set about organising a money-raising programme of events which is aimed at covering the cost of the materials needed by the men who will be helped out by local labour from the able-bodied men of the village. Mr Chippendale and Mr Moore said they had already made a preliminary inspection of the church, including the tower but until the slates were taken off they could not make a full estimate of the cost of materials for the work. Lots of people had offered help and with the spirit and determination of this calibre the future of Altham Parish Church seems more than secure.