RESIDENTS in a village with a population of about 550 are celebrating after being handed £520,000 for an ambitious project to boost the community.

Leaders of the Vision Project said the Heritage Lottery windfall had presented Sharow, near Ripon, with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, enabling it to transform its Georgian church into a vibrant venue, while tackling parking issues that have dogged the village in recent years.

Dean of Ripon and incumbent of Sharow, the Very Revd John Dobson, said: "I am delighted by the decision to support the efforts of the people of Sharow to develop this exciting project.

"As well as conserving some important heritage, they wish to share a wonderfully enhanced building with the wider community in ways that will enhance many lives.

"I congratulate all who have played a part in getting to this point and wish them well in taking forward the project to completion."

It is hoped work to preserve grade II listed St John's Church will start in the coming months, as surveyors have said some of its bowing stained glass windows could be blown out by a gust of wind, while the building work is scheduled for completion by next April.

The £115,000 of conservation work will include renovating the 1825 building's stonework and 24 windows, some of which are of national importance, such as one of only two in the country celebrating Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee.

The scheme marks the second phase of the initiative, which was launched in 2009 and has seen changes to the church's interior, such as the removal of pews and a new floor, to encourage use of the church other than for services.

The initial work was funded with £178,000 raised by donations from church and community members.

Charles Tease, who is helping run the project, said the plans also involved the churchyard and aspects of the community's history.

The churchyard contains the pyramid grave of one of Queen Victoria’s astronomers, a large area of British Legion graves and a conservation area that encourages wildlife.

Mr Tease said: "It is about much more than the building, its main focus is people.

"St John’s is becoming an increasingly popular venue for concerts, dramas, and diverse community events that are attracting ever wider participation.”

Other key aspects of the project include the building of a kitchen and a car park, which will be available to parents collecting children from the nearby school to overcome congestion issues on narrow lanes in the area.