The Churches Conservation Trust looks after many churches which are no longer regularly used for worship, including Elston Chapel in Cotham.

Field officer Tim Charlson said many in the county needed repairs and would benefit from communities working together more.

He added: "We want to encourage people to use these spaces more."

'Join together'

The trust cares for more than 330 churches across the country which are no longer needed for parish use.

Mr Charlson said their upkeep was important because of a decline in the number of community facilities in villages.

"You only have to travel through an average village these days and the pubs have closed down, there's no post office, there's few shops," he said.

"There are very few public spaces where communities can join together and have community events."