Three churches in our diocese have received a much needed funding boost from the National Churches Trust.
St Wilfrid, Burnsall: A Grade 1 listed building in the Yorkshire Dales has received a £10,000 National Churches Trust Repair Grant to help fund a project which includes the re-roofing of the north and south side chapels, repointing the east gable above the chapel and repairing windows in the south chapel.
The church suffers badly from damp and water penetration in several areas. The worst affected is the St Wilfrid chapel where buckets are used to catch rainwater. When the building is weather tight the church hopes to carry out a complete internal redecoration, this has been postponed for 10 years. The NCT observed that St Wilfrid’s was a spectacular space for a small rural church but looked shabby.
It is an ancient Grade 1 church situated in a Conservation Area in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. On permanent display are the remains of Anglo-Scandinavian crosses and tomb covers.
Huw Edwards, Broadcaster and Journalist and Vice-President of the National Churches Trust said: “I’m delighted that St Wilfrid, Burnsall is to be saved for the future with the help of a £10,000 National Churches Trust Repair Grant. This will ensure that the church remains open and a key part of the heritage of Burnsall.”
A spokesman for the church said: “St Wilfrid's PCC is delighted to receive this substantial award from the National Churches Trust. The tenders for the work were all significantly more than envisaged and when the Letter of Intent was issued to the contractor in March there was a funding gap of £47,000. The award from the National Churches Trust is a significant contribution towards closing the gap. The work is progressing well and is on schedule.”
St Stephen’s, West Bowling, Bradford: This church was awarded a £34,000 National Churches Trust Repair Grant to fund urgent repairs to the roofs, masonry, glazing, and underground drainage to the north side of the church. The church in the heart of West Bowling serves one of the most disadvantaged communities in Britain delivering a wide range of services for young and old including a job club, gardening skills, money management course, credit union, arts and crafts projects as well as delivers partner work with the homeless and refugees.
Oak panels were fitted in the chancel in 1921 as a memorial to 279 members of the church and members of the Bradford Pals regiment killed during WWI. They are of national importance.
Watch a film about St Stephen’s here made as part of our year long campaign to tell the rich and varied stories of our churches in the diocese.
[video: https://youtu.be/zcGfVFbIQZc]
And the third church to benefit is Grade 11* listed Holy Trinity in Huddersfield. It has also received a £10,000 National Churches Trust Repair Grant to fund urgent repairs to the nave and aisle roofs and to stonework and rainwater goods.
Holy Trinity celebrates its bicentenary in 2019 and the repairs will mean it will be structurally stable and weather tight on the south side with the roof, rainwater goods and drainage functioning as intended. In addition to completing external repairs, deterioration of the interior plasterwork and decoration will be stopped. Once this is dry, in the medium term the church will be able to redecorate as well to stabilise the monuments inside on the south walls which are currently badly affected by the water.
Once the repairs are completed the building will be able to host a greater number of events such as concerts, meetings of local organisations and community groups. The repairs will also ensure that Holy Trinity continues to play a prominent and elegant part in the townscape of Huddersfield.
Huw Edwards, Broadcaster and Journalist and Vice-President of the National Churches Trust said: “I’m delighted that these churches are to be saved for the future with the help of grants from the National Churches Trust Repair Grant. This will ensure that these important community churches remain open and at the service of local people.”