Rusty old tram rails and crumbling concrete holding up a historic church tower are about to be stripped out and replaced with sturdier stuff.

Supporters of Queensbury’s Holy Trinity Church have had their prayers answered and funding for the tower restoration work is coming in.

It will cost about £186,000 to demolish the 97-year-old tower down to clock-face level brick by brick. It will then be rebuilt with work ready to start in September.

The church tower, reputed to be the highest in England with a full peal of bells, was built in 1911 to replace an earlier one, which was in a state of collapse because of crumbling foundations.

The 80ft tower cost just over £5,000 when it was built, paid for by public subscription.

But now the tower’s stonework is crumbling, with gaps between the stones big enough to push fingers in.

Ian Tindall, Holy Trinity Church’s project manager, said: “September isn’t the ideal time to start off building work of this nature, especially up in Queensbury, but we want to get on with it.

“We’ve secured a lottery bid for £126,000, which includes VAT that we should get back, and then there’s some more money we’re hoping to get from Yorkshire Historic Churches and Wren (Waste Recycling Environmental Limited) – formerly the landfill tax credit scheme.

“We’re keeping our fingers crossed for about £10,000 or a bit more depending on how generous they’re feeling.”

The money means that the church’s new tower will be complemented by new flagpole, flat roof and a bellroom.

“Hopefully, once it’s all done, we’ll be able to start ringing the bells more often, just like we used to. It used to be every Sunday but now it’s just on the odd occasion or wedding,” added Mr Tindall.

On a very clear day from the top of the tower, it is said Morecambe Bay can be seen 60 miles away, as can the Dales to the north and then Emley Moor and Leeds in other directions.

The congregation and Friends of Holy Trinity group have already been digging deep in their own pockets and busy fundraising – Steeton Male Voice Choir sang there recently to help boost the coffers and the famous Black Dyke Band will be putting in an appearance to increase funds in October.

The work on the tower is the second phase of a massive repair scheme. The first part, which cost in the region of £305,000, saw the south side of the church re-roofed, stonework replaced and spruced up and internal guttering improved.

To make those repairs possible, English Heritage Lottery provided £156,000, and Wren £23,000 through Yorkshire Historic Churches.