A ruined medieval church which a community is fighting to preserve has been added to a register of sites deemed to be at risk.

St Margaret's Church, in West Raynham, has endured for hundreds of years, albeit in ruins for the last couple of centuries.

Concerned villagers have been battling to prevent the further decline of the remains, which include the tower, nave, north aisle and chancel.

North Norfolk News: Villagers have helped to protect the ruins of St Margaret's Church in West RaynhamVillagers have helped to protect the ruins of St Margaret's Church in West Raynham (Image: Historic England)

Their efforts have helped to prevent further erosion, but more work is needed to help protect the site and Historic England has placed it on its Heritage at Risk Register.

That register lists buildings and sites at risk of neglect, decay or inappropriate development, with St Margaret's one of the 4,871 entries on it.

There are 412 entries across the east of England on the 2023 Heritage at Risk Register, with 118 of them in Norfolk.

But inclusion on the list can be a positive measure, as it can help unlock funding to protect buildings.

North Norfolk News: The ruins of St Margaret's Church in West RaynhamThe ruins of St Margaret's Church in West Raynham (Image: Historic England)

And there is no shortage of support locally. Villagers, who voluntarily manage the Grade II-listed site - which was abandoned in the early 18th century - raised funds from the community and the Norfolk Churches Trust to protect it.

Norfolk Wildlife Trust, the Diocese of Norwich and the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings have all got involved to make it a centre of excellence in how to combine ruin and churchyard management.

Dense undergrowth was cut back to give access to the churchyard and a modern altar replicating the medieval stone mensa - altar table -  was placed in the chancel.

That allowed St Margaret's to be used for regular open-air services, the first time worship had been held at the church for more than 300 years.

Supporter David Stubbs, from West Raynham, said: “St Margaret’s ruins and churchyard are a precious asset for our community, set in an idyllic location within the Upper Wensum Valley, linking us to centuries of local history.

"Our focus now is to safeguard this heritage for future generations and to be an exemplar to inspire similar projects."

READ MORE: Future of four historic Norwich buildings at risk

Another Norfolk church shows how buildings which are on the register can later come off the at-risk list, once their fortunes improve.

Grade I-listed St Mary's Church in North Tuddenham, with its medieval tower, had been in danger of collapse - but has been saved.

North Norfolk News: St Mary's Church in North TuddenhamSt Mary's Church in North Tuddenham (Image: Historic England)

The 14th century west tower at the church, which contains a single bell dating to 1380, was at risk of falling down and it was put on the register in 2017.

Historic England awarded a grant of £300,000 to enable emergency works to stabilise the tower, repair the walls and install new drainage.

North Norfolk News: St Mary's Church in North TuddenhamSt Mary's Church in North Tuddenham (Image: Historic England)

The church is now open to visitors again. Its distinctive features include a wide nave, unique Victorian wall tiling, an east window and a Victorian Bevington windpipe organ.

Decorations throughout the church include stencilled motifs, wall paintings, framed biblical texts and exceptional medieval stained-glass windows.

In 2022/2023, Historic England awarded just over £1m in grants for repairs to 22 historic places and sites in the East of England, which were on the register.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the publication of the first national Heritage at Risk Register.

Since it began in 1998, around 6,800 entries have been removed - around three-quarters of the entries that were on the original list.

North Norfolk News: Tony Calladine from Historic EnglandTony Calladine from Historic England (Image: Historic England)

READ MORE: Protection for remnants of lost Norfolk country house

Tony Calladine, Historic England's East of England regional director, said: "Protecting our heritage is so important.

"It is truly inspirational to see communities coming together to help save historic buildings and places and find new uses for them."