All Saints church, at Newton on Ouse, is celebrating after receiving the final piece of its funding jigsaw from the Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust, enabling vital roof repairs to be undertaken.
The grade II listed church is a local landmark and has served the communities of Newton on Ouse, Linton on Ouse and Beningbrough for over 165 years. However, with missing roof slates and gaps in the mortar, the church has become badly damaged by damp and is no longer water tight.The total cost of the repairs was estimated at £258,000, and members of the church embarked on a major fundraising drive to raise the necessary funds. A campaign was launched encouraging the local community to sponsor a slate, with a ‘totaliser’ – a mock-up of the church roof with roof tiles signifying the progress of the fundraising appeal.
Thanks to the support of the community, local business and successful grant applications to the Heritage Lottery Fund and the National Churches Trust, by January 2016 the fundraising target was within reach.
The final £9900 was provided by the Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust at it’s recent grants committee, which saw over £58,000 allocated to fund vital repairs to the roofs, windows and ancient stonework in 12 of the region’s most vulnerable places of worship.
Reverend Malcolm Wainwright said: “All Saints is a real hub of community life and we are delighted to have received this funding. It means the vital repair works can now begin, the church can continue to offer a range of activities and be a welcoming place for the local community.”
Tom Ramsden, Chairman of the Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust, said “With its prominent spire being seen for miles around, All Saints is an important part of the local community, and we are delighted that this last amount of funding will ensure the essential repair works can now begin”. He continued: “The YHCT relies on the generosity of friends and donors to help fund repairs, which will ensure the county’s much loved places of worship remain standing from many years to come.”