Eight historic churches facing the threat of closure or urgent repair needs have been awarded a share of £1.25 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The grants are part of the Fund’s £15 million, three-year initiative aimed at enhancing the sustainability, accessibility, and visitor experience of places of worship across the UK.
These investments are crucial in preserving the heritage of churches that play an important role in local communities.
Among the recipients is St George the Martyr in Queen Square, Holborn, London. A Grade II listed church on Historic England’s At Risk register, St George’s, built in 1723, is described as “a haven of peace and beauty” but now faces deteriorating conditions, including broken plaster, peeling paint, and inadequate heating.
The church will receive a development grant of £380,389 to help restore its structure and strengthen its connection with the surrounding community.
St Martin’s Church, Bulmer, in York Diocese, has been awarded a substantial £248,504 for the “Stone and Story” project, aimed at conserving its 14th-century tower and improving the church’s thermal efficiency.
The project will also enhance community outreach and accessibility. The church, part of the Howardian Benefice, is described as resembling “a very early Christian church” and is valued for its peaceful atmosphere.
In Helmsley, North Yorkshire, All Saints’ Church is set to receive just over £138,000 to conserve its Edwardian murals, which tell the story of Christianity’s spread in the region.
The Grade II listed church is seen by the local community as a place of “friendship and support,” and the grant will enable a detailed restoration plan.
St John the Baptist Church in Nash, Shropshire, a 13th-century church nestled in the south Shropshire hills, has been awarded £30,804 for repairs to its tower, spire, and roof.
The work will remove the church from the At Risk register and help reconnect the community with its rich natural and social heritage.
In Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Jesmond United Reformed Church has received £163,600 for its “Discover Jesmond 1888” project.
This initiative, in partnership with St George’s Anglican Church, aims to restore two rare T.C. Lewis pipe organs and create a heritage trail connecting the two churches. The grant will support community engagement through events and heritage activities.
Holt Methodist Church in Norfolk is to receive £40,018 to help update its Grade II listed building for community use.
The "Light and Life for All" project will improve accessibility and make the church more user-friendly, particularly for children and young people, based on a recent community audit identifying a need for more local activities.
In Lincoln, the Greek Orthodox Church of St Basil and St Paisios, which moved into a former Anglican church in 2018, has been granted £51,763 to fund surveys.
The project will explore the growing needs of the church, which is based in a Grade II listed building dating back to 1721, as the community of Greek and Greek Cypriot people in the area continues to grow.
Lastly, Lochwinnoch Parish Church in Renfrewshire, Scotland, has been awarded £198,250 to support the development phase of its restoration.
Closed for worship in 2020 and listed on Scotland’s Buildings at Risk register, the church is now up for sale. The Lochwinnoch Community Development Trust plans to transform it into a multi-use community hub. Chair Diarmid Harris expressed the community’s excitement, saying the renovation would help restore the church to its central role in the village.
This funding comes as the National Lottery Heritage Fund celebrates its 30th anniversary.
Since 1994, the Fund has invested over £1 billion in more than 8,200 places of worship, ensuring their continued preservation and connection to future generations.
Eilish McGuinness, chief executive of the Fund, expressed delight in these latest grants, saying: “We are thrilled to invest in these historic places of worship, ensuring their heritage will be cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future.”