A conservation group claims the urban landscape is under threat because congregations are struggling to maintain churches.

Members fear important architectural sights which define towns and cities could be lost if churches start to decline.

There are concerns some churches could vanish from the urban vista altogether under demolition orders unless they are given financial backing to stop them decaying.

The Regency Society, which is dedicated to the preservation of Brighton, estimates there are up to 50 churches in the city in desperate need of repair.

John Small, secretary of the society, said they were struggling to find money for the work.

The society has just donated £600 to the building appeal fund for Brighton Unitarian Church, a 200-year-old building in New Road, which needs £200,000 for repairs to save it from collapse.

The society said the building was just one place of worship, forming an essential feature of the history of Brighton and Hove.

Mr Small said it was not enough to expect small congregations, many of which have dwindled, to raise funds needed to keep churches in good order.

He said: "Churches have such a colossal architectural value and are very important to the townscape.

"They are a punctuation in the street scene. In every town, the streets have a pub, a church or something equally demonstrative and, without them, the view gets extremely boring.

"The whole nub of the matter is that churches are the responsibility of their parish congregations.

"Some grants do come from English Heritage but the application process is usually very complicated and they have to be matched by an equal amount from the applicant.

"There is also a difference in the way churches are listed, which is not the same as other historic buildings.

"This is something we need to address and I mean everybody. Otherwise, there will be a terrible loss of important buildings."

Some churches, such as St Peter's in York Place, Brighton, and All Saints in The Drive, Hove, need up to £1.5 million each for urgent repairs.

Congregations often find it difficult to raise such vast sums of money alone.

A spokesman for the Church of England said all churches were a vital part of parish life and had value as architectural landmarks.

He said: "The Chancellor of the Exchequer has said he will cut VAT on church repairs from 17.5 per cent to five per cent which will make a big difference.

"That will help enormously but we would always welcome more help."