The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and English Heritage (EH) have announced a package of grants worth £6.87 million for essential repairs to Grade II listed churches and chapels across England. The grants will help to repair over 70 historic places of worship, which have served their ever-changing communities throughout the centuries.
One recipient is Stockton United Reformed Church on Yarm Lane. One of the town's best-known local landmarks, the church boasts the tallest spire in Stockton and has been awarded a grant of £154,000 to carry out much-needed repairs on the tower and spire. The grant to Stockton URC is one of the largest this year.
The church is more than 140 years old. It was built as a Presbyterian Church serving the Scottish community in Stockton, many of whom had come to the town to take up jobs in Teesside's booming chemical industries. It became a United Reformed Church in 1987 when the Presbyterian and Congregational Churches merged.
Carol Pyrah, English Heritage's Planning & Development Director for the North East, said, "England's churches and chapels are the spiritual, communal and architectural backbone of our villages, towns and cities. English Heritage, once again this year, is proud to be supporting the repair of these important historic buildings. We hope our contribution will allow them to remain in use by the communities that enjoy them. Stockton URC has served its community for more than 140 years and we hope the work funded by the repair grants scheme will ensure it can continue for many more years to come."
Dr Keith Bartlett, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund for the North East, added: "People really care about their local places of worship which are often a focus for the whole community. The Heritage Lottery Fund and English Heritage are helping to secure their future by concentrating on the most urgent repair needs and so making a crucial difference to their long-term survival."
Rev Colin Offor of Stockton URC, said: "The Church is active in the community and the building is used for cultural and social events as well as for worship. This grant will enable us to continue to be of service to the town."
Gordon Thersby, an Elder at the church, added: "The grant will be used for urgent high-level masonry repairs to some of the stone work on the church tower. Some of the ferrous materials in the spire are also rusting and need to be replaced. The grant funding is very welcome, we really could not have carried out the work without this support from English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund."
Since 2002 more than £133 million of essential repair grants have been awarded to almost 1,500 historic places of worship through the joint Heritage Lottery Fund and English Heritage 'Repair Grants for Places of Worship' scheme, which is the largest single funding source for work of this kind.
Other North East grants awarded include:
St John the Baptist, Alnmouth is awarded £8,000 to be used for much-needed structural work to the spire. St John the Baptist is a fine example of the early English style of Gothic architecture. Built at a cost of about £2,600, the church was consecrated in November 1876 by the Bishop of Durham. The church is built from sandstone, with a tower and spire at the west end. It is highly regarded for its stained glass windows and the decoration to the chancel roof.
Holy Trinity, Matfen is awarded £21,000 to be used for high level structural work to the spire and to maintain the condition of the lightning conductor. Work will also be carried out to investigate water damage to the nave, where the gable roof meets the parapet and to repair and consolidate the external stone staircase on the north gable, which leads to the bell tower. The church, on the south bank of the River Pont, was erected in 1842 at the sole cost of Sir Edward Blackett. The church consists of a nave, chancel and tower, which houses three bells.
An Ongoing and Urgent Task
The Church of England currently spends £120m a year on repairs but according to English Heritage research published as part of the Inspired! Campaign which was launched in 2006 the backlog repair bill for all listed places of worship in England is an estimated £925m over the next five years, or £185m a year. Inspired! identified the need for additional investment from Government and the denominations to help congregations look after their buildings.
Find Funded Places of Worship to Visit Online
One of the conditions of the Repair Grants for Places of Worship scheme is that the public should have a right to see those buildings which have benefited from this public money. Prospective visitors can now search on the English Heritage website for details of how to visit places of worship whose repairs have been grant-aided under the scheme. The list can be found at: www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.17628
