A Victorian church is facing a cash crisis as spending outstrips income.

As stated in The Argus, St Mary's Church, Goring, needs up to £200,000 to replace its roof.

But the day-to-day running costs of the historic Worthing parish church is also causing concern.

Parish treasurer Ray Whitcombe, writing in the latest edition of the parish magazine, stated: "We are nine months into the year and our income is already £5,462 less than our expenditure and the gap is widening.

"We have urgent work needed to the church, namely repairs to the organ chamber roof costing £5,421 and repairs to a soak-away costing £2,546. The total, to include VAT and architects' fees, as well as the overspend, is going to be about £17,000."

He said there were 348 people on the Electoral Role and, of these, 128 had signed a gift aid form allowing the church to recover the tax on donations from the Government.

Mr Whitcombe urged others belonging to the church to sign a form, providing further income running into thousands of pounds.

He added: "Unfortunately, our income does not increase year on year automatically and, in fact, the reverse is true owing to parishioners moving away and dying but our expenditure does increase considerably each year.

"Our biggest expense is our contribution to the Diocese. This has to cover the costs of clergy stipends, pension contributions, housing, training and all parish support costs.

"We are making an appeal to everyone to consider their contribution to St Mary's. The situation is serious and we would ask you all to consider an increase, no matter how small or large."

St Mary's has suffered a further blow with the impending departure of the Reverend Stephen Gurr, curate of the church.

Mr Gurr and his family are leaving in the New Year for a new post in nearby Clapham, Patching and Findon.

During the summer, Goring's vicar, Michael Hore, moved on and, so far, nobody has been appointed to replace him.

The Reverend Gurr said: "I remember Michael saying several times when he had to announce his departure how he did so with very mixed feelings and this is something we would certainly echo.

"We have grown extremely attached to Goring, both to the people and the place, and leaving will be extremely hard."

"I guess that some may question the timing of our departure given that, as yet, no incumbent has been appointed for Goring but I am hopeful that now we have advertised in the national Church Press, God will, in the not too distant future, direct the person he desires to be with us here as our new vicar.

"And by the time we arrive in our new parish it will have had no incumbent for well over two years. Although every parish situation is different, this does put our waiting here in Goring into some perspective."