A HERITAGE centre is to be created at Breage Church thanks to a £166,500 grant that will also allow the tower to be restored.

The parish church has received the money from the Heritage Lottery Fund and will now be able to restore the famous church tower pinnacles and flagpole, as well as set up an a new area focusing on the local Celtic saints of west Cornwall including St Breaca, after whom both village and church are named.

Rev Dr Peter Johnson, the priest-in-charge, said: “We are thrilled to have received this support thanks to National Lottery players and are confident that the heritage centre and tower pinnacles will continue to have relevance for locals, visitors and navigators for many years to come.”

Breage Church is famous for its medieval murals dating to the 15th century, which themselves have been recently restored.

Linking St Breaca with nine other Celtic saints of west Cornwall, visitors to the new heritage centre will gain a comprehensive introduction to the history of the church and the area. They will also be able to continue their journey from Breage to other churches of west Cornwall associated with the saints.

The latest restoration is part of a larger project of work on the building, which has also included the repointing of the north wall.