THE parish church of Probus will be hostinh a tower open day on Saturday, May 31, from 9am to 5pm in a bid to raise money towards ongoing repair work.

Dedicated to Welsh husband-and-wife saints St Probus and St Grace, the church was founded on what may be one of the earliest Christian sites in the UK, possibly dating back to the fourth century.

Art historian Nikolaus Pevsner said of Probus that “the glory of the church is its tower”, which at just over 38m is the tallest in Cornwall. It dates back to 1523 and was built using granite sourced from St Stephen-in-Brannel, boasting fine views from the top and a peal of eight bells.

However, with its narrow, steep stairs, this is not a tour for the frail or faint-hearted. Those who don't fancy the climb can watch video footage of the view and explore some of the historic features of the church’s ancient and impressive interior.

These include a beautiful rood screen, the painted chancel ceiling, the Alphabet Doors to the tower room - believed to have been used to teach village children to read - and the reliquary containing two skulls, male and female, that were interred in the sanctuary wall and discovered during an 1850 renovation.

A 13-minute audio tour is available, and children’s activities including a treasure hunt will take place on the day. Suggested donations of £5 (under 16s £2) will go towards the church’s £20,000 Give to Go Green Campaign target to improve heating provision. Card payments are encouraged, as these will be match-funded by the Church of England.

The fabric of the Grade I listed building is also in dire need of help, due to expired materials such as lead, and outdated or unsuitable repair methods including cement render.

Current campaigns include extensive work on the roof to halt water ingress inside the building; during major storms, buckets are required to catch drips, and replacing slates using effective methods is an ongoing job. Damp and mould are also a constant threat, and the church has most recently been granted £9,500 by the Cornwall Historic Churches Trust towards its funding pot to tackle these problems.

As well as services, the church serves as a community hub for non-worshippers, hosting the village food larder, regular coffee mornings for the elderly and a lively toddler group. The ongoing West End Project aims to create more space for events, with better heating and a toilet. Funding for this has been sourced from the Community Levelling Up fund.

Events coordinator Eleanor McCartney said: “We hope as many people as possible will come and enjoy this once-a-year opportunity to see the views from the top of the tower, in the knowledge they are contributing to the future of our church. It has been here for 500 years, and we’d love it to be here for 500 more, and to continue to be useful to everyone.”

Refreshments are available pre- and post-climb. For further details of the Give to Go Green campaign, visit givealittle.co/c/2Q2imebcxEX0wNb92bmF2c