FUNDRAISING efforts by a local church have led to a national award win from Churches Conservation Trust Awards.

St James Church at Cameley were celebrating the conclusion of conservation work on the medieval wall paintings only to hear on June 4 they had been named as national winners of the Fundraising Achievement Award.

In February 2025 the Friends of Cameley launched an appeal to save the medieval wall paintings which span the 13th to 18th centuries after discovering that the plaster on which the paintings were displayed was delaminating from the stonework.

The group applied for grants, held concerts and choral evensong and set up a Just Giving Appeal, and with generous private donations, by October 2025 had amassed £35,000 allowing a conservator to be commissioned.

An Open Day is now planned for Sunday June 14 from 12pm to 4pm to celebrate their achievement. A spokespersons said: “It is a free event we just want people to come and see the work which has been done, there will be guided tours of the church with explanation of the paintings at 1pm and at 3pm.

“Storyteller Martin Horler will be revealing the 65 year old ‘Secret of St James’ and of course there will be tea and cake.”