BUILDER Jan Karvik put his passion for climbing to good use to carry out work on the roof of an historic church.

Tutshill-based Jan has volunteered with rooftop maintenance at the 900-year-old St Mary Priory Church in Chepstow.

Jan abseiled from the tower and the lower roof spaces to clear gutters, weed and kill vegetation and evaluate broken tiles.

Other volunteers, wearing harnesses supplied by Jan, swept out the gutters which were accessible.

Jan said: “This church is an iconic building in Chepstow, and I’m pleased to be involved in its maintenance.”

This roof work, estimated at a cost of around £10,000, has now been started by Jan and presents a huge saving to the ailing finances of the church.

“Parishes in the Church of England and Church in Wales have always had to be financially self-supporting since time immemorial”, says Vicar of Chepstow Rev Philip Averay.

“Our small congregation simply cannot afford to run it.

“We are asking the community to organise and maintain this building if it is to remain available for public use.

“This is why we have started the Chepstow Priory Friends, the organisation formed to support the church building.”

Rev Averay, a former assistant curate at Drybrook, said there is a great need for volunteers to help raise funds as well.

The annual general meeting is coming up on October 20 at 7pm in the church, and lots of people are needed to take an interest in the future of the building.