The green light has been given for one of the island’s most historic churches to be refurbished.

A planning application was submitted by the churchwarden for the Parish of Marown, Foxdale and Baldwin last month to carry out works at St Runius Church in Crosby.

The application has proved successful, meaning green growth inside the church will be removed, along with repainting and external works such as guttering and repointing.

Dedicated to Ma Rooney (St Runius), the church was built around 1200, but was altered in 1754. In 1853 the church was replaced as the parish church for Marown by the church opened on the main Douglas-Peel road.

Although the church continued to be used for special services, it fell into disrepair and it was only after restoration by volunteers that it could be reopened in 1959.

In the cover letter, the applicant said: ‘The most obvious indication of the need for works is the heavy green growth on the interior west wall. There are also patches of green growth on the lower levels of the interior north-facing wall and some discolouration of the plastering on the interior south-facing wall. Generally, the paintwork on the interior walls is now in a poor state.

‘On the outside, the roof is in good condition, but there are no gutters and the pointing of the stonework is variable. When it rains, the stonework is not protected from water coming off the roof due to the lack of gutters.’

The work will see the external walls repointed in many areas with lime mortar and guttering installed. A gully will also be dug to carry away water during heavy rain.

Inside, the emulsion on the walls will be scraped off and the walls will be treated with an algicide/fungicide and limewashed. A number of old lamp stands will be removed and a new bench installed outside.