A church with a crypt containing the bodies of famous literary sisters Charlotte and Emily Bronte is facing a huge repair bill of up to £1.25 million.

Parishioners at Haworth Parish Church, in Church Street, have started a fundraising drive to replace the leaking roof and carry out other major refurbishments.

As part of the major works, the Bronte crypt – sealed since the late 19th century – may be re-opened to visitors, said the vicar, the Reverend Peter Mayo-Smith.

“It is something that we want to explore to enhance the visitor attraction and allow people to come and see it,” he said. “There are one million tourists per year and Haworth is one of the most visited heritage sites in the world, so what we want to do is give the visitors an even better experience.”

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) has set up The Futures Group to co-ordinate fundraising.

Chairman John Huxley said: “The roof has been leaking for quite some time now. We know it is coming to the end of its working life.

“We also have in the church some hangings badly in need of restoring and the organ needs serious restoration or a replacement.

“There are numerous other jobs that need doing to make it fit for purpose in the 21st century without spoiling its atmosphere and historical context.”

The church, known as St Michael and All Angels, is instantly recognisable because of its prominent position in Haworth. It is famous internationally because of its links with the Bronte family – the Reverend Patrick Bronte, father of the literary sisters, was vicar at a church on the site.

His successor, the Rev John Wade, demolished and rebuilt the church in 1879.

He sealed the crypt where the bodies of Charlotte, author of Jane Eyre, and Emily, who wrote Wuthering Heights, are buried.

Mr Huxley, also chairman of the parish council, said a “ballpark” appeal figure of £1.25million had been set.

The first phase of work will include replacing the boiler system, which is expected to cost £60,000, and repairing the historic organ for £55,000. The roof will cost up to £500,000 to repair and £15,000 is needed for a new system for the historic clock to chime again.

Mr Huxley said: “We are aware of the importance of the church to the tourist industry within Haworth and also how important it is to the life of the village.”

For details about fundraising, call Mr Mayo-Smith on (01535) 648464.

The church's Bronte legacy

The church was demolished in the 1870s after a request by the Rev John Wade, who convinced church authorities the building was unsafe.

Its demolition sparked a huge national outcry with people believing his motive was jealousy of the Brontes.

The crypt remained, but he made sure it was sealed permanently.

It contains the bodies of Charlotte, author of Jane Eyre, who died in 1855, aged 38; Emily, who wrote Wuthering Heights and died in 1848 aged 30; their brother Branwell, who died the same year at 31; their father, the Rev Patrick Bronte, who died aged 84 in 1861, his wife and her sister.

Emily and Charlotte’s sister Anne Bronte is buried in Scarborough, where she died, aged 29, in May 1849.