NEW details have emerged on the bequest which is set to benefit the £150,000 appeal to renew the roof of St Joseph's Catholic Church at Pickering.

The parish priest, the Very Rev Dr Bill East, says a legacy was left to the Catholic Diocese of Middlesbrough by the Rev Edward Bryan, the first priest at St Joseph's, who died in 1937.

The interest on his bequest was to provide an income for his long-serving housekeeper, Nellie Tobin, who died three years ago at the age of 100 and who was known in Pickering as "Aunty Nellie".

"Father Bryan requested that on her death, the Bishop of Middlesbrough would apply the money to St Joseph's, Pickering," says Father East. "We are hoping that this money will now be applied to the renewal of the roof."

While the exact amount at present in the fund is not yet known, it has been

estimated at £100,000.

Father East said that St Joseph's had been turned down for a grant from English Heritage.

"They do not often provide money for grade 2 listed buildings. I believe that our neighbour, St Peter and St Paul's Anglican Church in Pickering, a far older building than our own, was also turned down for a similar purpose," said Father East.

During the coming year, St Joseph's will be celebrating its centenary as a parish after being started by Father Bryan with a congregation of just a dozen Catholics. It was during his ministry that the Georgian-built house, now the presbytery, was acquired.

Meanwhile, the congregation and friends of St Joseph's are exploring ways of raising the balance of the funds needed to renew the roof of St Joseph's and any help or ideas would be welcomed by Father East on (01751) 472727.

Updated: 12:43 Monday, December 29, 2003