A mysterious benefactor has donated £1.5million to Bath Abbey which was posted to church in a plain brown envelope . The donor , who is known to church officials but has asked not to be named , sent the money along with a note , saying they wanted to help safeguard the church 'for the next hundred years ' . The cash will be put towards the Abbey 's restoration fund , which is aiming to raise £20million to repair the collapsing floor , fit heating powered by the Bath springs , and expand the building . A mysterious benefactor posted the plain brown envelope to officials at Bath Abbey , pledging £1.5million to the church 's £20million restoration fund . Laura Brown , who is heading up the Footprint restoration project , said she had to read the letter twice before she could believe it was real , adding that she had to have a 'sit down ' afterwards . The donation was accompanied by a note , which reads : 'Much impressed by the care and the consultation with has been put in by the Abbey , which is such a vital part of Bath ’ s future . 'This generation has a solemn duty to ensure the Abbey is fit and able to carry out its service to the city and the community for the next hundred years . ' The church has been granted £10.4million of Heritage Lottery Funding , but only provided they can raise the additional £7.1million themselves by the end of the year . Before the mysterious benefactor came forward , the largest single donation the church had received was £1.1million from the congregation and charity Friends of Bath Abbey . The Footprint project was granted £10.4million of Heritage Lottery funding to repair the floor , and expand the building , but only if the church can raise the remaining £7.1million by the end of the year . The church congregation , and charity Friends of Batch Abbey , donated £1.1million to the project , but the anonymous donor topped that , with their gift of £1.5million . Laura Brown , 48 , who is heading up the Footprint project , told MailOnline : 'We received it in the post , just like any normal letter , and it was in a plain brown envelope just like any normal letter . 'Your first thought is `` no , hang on , that ca n't be right '' but then you read it again and realise , this is actually happening . I had to have a sit down for a while . 'Of course there is gratitude , but there 's also this glow you get . The team believe in this project so much and it feels so good to see that someone else sees the same thing . 'Not only that but that person has the resources to be able to really make something happen , and hopefully inspire other people as well . ' She added that the church still needs to raise £4.1million in the next eight months , but that cash donations have already started arriving , and more people are also pledging money . Part of the Bath Abbey rennovations will see it fitted with an eco-friendly underfloor heating system which uses water from the River Avon , warmed by the town 's springs . Speaking after the first £1.1million was donated , Reverend Prebendary Edward Mason , said : 'It ’ s wonderful , what a remarkable group of people . 'Less than six months ago , the Abbey invited its members to consider the Footprint project by pledging gifts . 'In this short space of time , the total raised has risen to £1.1 million , an amazing response . 'Footprint is about sustaining a Christian presence at the Abbey in the heart of Bath for the next century and these gifts demonstrate the congregation and The Friends of Bath Abbey ’ s commitment to the project . '
Anonymous benefactor donated money to £20million restoration fund . The funds will be used for the construction of a new building on the site and also to help with the upkeep of the existing building.