PARISHIONERS in Llangybi are hopeful that work to repair the roof of a medieval church is on course to start soon after a several delays.

Fundraisers behind an appeal to raise £100,000 to pay for the repairs to St Cybi’s Church in Llangibby, near Usk, said investigations to assess the damage were held up for three months while waiting for a bat licence and also to co-ordinate the availability of a specialised building firm and wall paintings expert.

Despite the delay, the ‘Keep St Cybi’s Open’ group said progress is being made. Initial exploratory work to the church ceiling was carried out in October but further permission was needed to remove a large part of the ceiling.

This has now been given and will enable an architect to inspect the timbers above and decide what repairs need to be carried out.

The next step will be to apply for the second round of Heritage Lottery Funding and begin repair work. Last year the Heritage Lottery Fund awarded £13,000 towards the cost of investigation work.

Parishioners launched the appeal in 2014 after a crack in the plaster ceiling above a rare pipe organ.

The organ was quickly dismantled and part of the church closed on health and safety grounds.

An inspection revealed that the rest of the ceiling was at risk and that rare 15th and 17th century wall paintings, deemed irreplaceable by Cadw, were in danger of falling off the walls from hidden damp. Cadw said the church must protect the wall paintings before the repair work to the ceiling can start.

Further investigations by a wall painting expert have detected more medieval paintings under 500 years of lime wash on the chancel arch.

The church has remained open with the congregation able to worship in the west end.

Reverend Pamela Love, assistant curate for the four churches in the Llangybi group, said the congregation and village community remain hopeful and have helped to raise £10,000 by holding fundraising events such as concerts and carol singing and through donations.

She added: “We have only had to remove to the Village Hall for one service, our Harvest Festival, having continued with work in the chancel, including our second Carol Service with 85 people in a space meant for just the vicar and choir.”