St Peter's Church will have a warmer welcome for visitors thanks to a four-figure grant.

OnPath Energy donated £1,000 to replace a series of old pew heaters, making sure the 19th-century building near Kirkby Lonsdale remains a comfortable place in colder times.

The District Church Committee, responsible for the upkeep of the church, applied to the community benefits fund linked to OnPath Energy’s nearby Armistead Wind Farm for support.

It provides grants to make a positive, long-term difference to voluntary groups, environmental projects, and community facilities in the area.

With the grant, eight new, large pew heaters have been installed, keeping worshippers warm during church services.

(Image: St Peter's Church) This is the second recent grant St Peter's has received from the Armistead Wind Farm community fund.

A £6,996 grant last year enabled the committee to repair the inclined 40m concrete path up to the church door, ensuring the building remained accessible to older worshippers and those with mobility problems.

The Grade II listed St Peter’s Church, built in 1874, is part of the Rainbow Parish Community, which includes eight parishes across South Lakeland.

Yvette Burchnall, district church committee member at St Peter’s, said: "The pew heaters are designed to keep the people sitting close to each one warm, rather than to heat the building as a whole.

"It’s a practical way of making it more comfortable for parishioners who might be sitting in them for some time, and more manageable for some of the older members of our congregation to attend our services.

"We’re constantly trying to raise money for different projects within the church, and with an old building like St Peter’s, there are always priority repairs and upgrades to which we need to allocate our limited resources."

Robin Winstanley, sustainability and community director at OnPath Energy, added: "The space for contemplation that St Peter’s provides will be more easily accessible all year round thanks to the care and consideration of the District Church Committee.

"We’re very pleased to be able to extend the support we’re providing from the Armistead Wind Farm fund for the committee’s work and hope all the visitors to the church feel the benefit of it over the winter."