Viewers vote puts church in final

Cushendun Old Church is in a National Trust village

A former church will represent Northern Ireland in the final of this year's BBC Restoration series.

Cushendun Old Church in County Antrim, a small former Church of Ireland building, is just four metres by 14 metres and has been declared redundant.

The deconsecrated church was one of three historic NI landmarks which viewers of last week's programme voted to save from dereliction.

Church trustee Anona Robertson said getting to the final was "fabulous."

"We're overjoyed," she added. "We really couldn't have imagined a few months ago when we were setting up the Trust that we would be where we are today.

"It's a wonderful day for the Glens of Antrim.

"We want to say a huge 'thank you' to everyone who voted for us."

Cushendun Old Church is one of the most significant buildings in the National Trust village of Cushendun.

It was once a haven for distinguished artists and the community is keen to rejuvenate the building.

Restoration is presented by Griff Rhys Jones

This year, the Heritage Lottery Fund has set aside £1.9m for the fund to help restore the winners.

Kevin Baird, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) manager for Northern Ireland, said: "Cushendun Old Church is a heritage gem and HLF is delighted it has reached the final.

"I would encourage people from all over Northern Ireland to really get behind their finalist and guarantee a future for Cushendun Old Church by pledging their votes."

The church fended off competition from a 16th century white house in Newtownabbey and a Georgian school in Gracehill to make it into the final.

The Cushendun church is one of eight buildings to be featured in the live final, to be held at Weald and Downland Open Air Museum in Chichester on Sunday, 17 September.

A nationwide vote will decide which building should be given a new lease of life with money raised throughout the course of the series.

The current series, presented by Griff Rhys Jones, is focussing this year on buildings which have previously been historically important to a local rural community and could be again.

Information on all 21 buildings featured in the series, and regional finalists, is available through the website on bbc.co.uk/restoration.

Restoration is broadcast on BBC at 2100 BST on Friday, 8 September.