CHURCHES across the county are falling into disrepair, due to a lack of funds and ageing congregations, it has been warned.

According to Historic England there are 14 listed churches in Oxfordshire in a “very bad” or “poor” condition, placing them on the register of buildings at risk.

Basil Eastwood, chairman of Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust and a former British ambassador, said there was a “serious, long-term problem” with the upkeep of churches, despite funding recently made available.

In March the Government said £40m would be added to the Roof Repair Fund, a national pot for churches, on top of £15m pledged in 2014 and £20m for the First World War Centenary Cathedral Repair Fund.

But Mr Eastwood said: “It is not just a question of money, but one of human resources.

“Congregations are getting older and smaller, meaning they are less able to muster money for repairs.

“You also have to consider that if everyone in your congregation is aged over 60, who is going to climb up and clear the gutters? It is a question of maintenance.”

He said that if churches were to cope with demand for repairs, they needed to broaden their appeal.

“We must involve the wider community, who may not come for worship but for other things like their facilities,” he added.

“You also need to involve young people.”

The at risk register means a building could be in danger of collapsing in coming years, or losing features that make it unique.

There are almost 890 places of worship in the country currently on the risk register, 14 of them in Oxfordshire.

They are included if they are listed Grade I or II and in a “very bad” or “poor” condition.

Those considered at risk by Historic England include the Gothic church of St Edburg’s in Bicester.

Historic England said the building’s stonework was “showing signs of notable dilapidation” to the parapets and crocketted pinnacles of the tower, and to the frieze on the south aisle parapet.

Drainage was also in need of repair, it added.

The Rev Peter Wright, a team curate, said repairs that were now being carried out were “normal refurbishment works” but agreed challenges were big in rural areas.

He said: “We are a town centre church and have seen our congregation grow in recent years.

“But funding building works is always a challenge and, mixed with that, we are also trying to provide a wide range of facilities for the community.

“In rural churches problems can be particularly acute, where you have small congregations that need to maintain churches that are falling into disrepair.”

AT RISK

* St Lawrence, Main Road, Milcombe
* St Thomas the Martyr, St Thomas Street, Oxford 
* All Saints, Cuddesdon
* All Saints, Church Street, North Moreton
* St Edburg, Church Street, Bicester
* St Mary the Virgin, Hart Street, Henley-on-Thames
* St Peter ad Vincula, The Town, South Newington
* St Mary, Church Lane, Kirtlington
* St Mary, Horsefair, Banbury
* Chapel at Stonor House, Pishill with Stonor
* All Saints, Wytham
* St John, Kingston Lisle
* St Nicholas, Kiddington Park, Kiddington
* St John the Baptist, Abingdon Road, Kingston Bagpuize