Twelve churches across Yorkshire have received nearly £80,000 in combined grants from the YHCT, with one of the benefitting churches being St Stephen’s, in West Bowling.
The Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust awarded £9,000 to restore the Grade II-listed church’s West Window, which has been boarded up since being damaged by a storm in 2020.
The church was originally built in the 1860s, reportedly at a cost of £2,500.
Grants were also awarded by the Trust to churches and chapels in Hornsea, Halifax, Leyburn, and beyond, across denominations from Methodist to United Reformed and Church of England.
St Stephen’s is currently providing a lifeline to Billy, a street sleeper who is living in a purpose-built pod in the church’s grounds.
The church is working with Hope Housing to provide emergency short-term accommodation for those who would otherwise be on the streets.
St Stephen’s provides the pod, food, and shower facilities, and Hope Housing provides the support to move the homeless to a more permanent situation.
The church also hosts counselling sessions, and runs its one-stop hub, SHINE, where West Bowling people can receive support.
Sarah Hinton, from the church said: “The grant from YHCT has enabled us to finish the restoration of our wonderful West Window. The quality of the glasswork is very good but for decades was covered so not fully seen. There is now a ‘wow’ factor as it is viewed and we have been able to light it in the evenings to bring beauty into our neighbourhood. We could not have managed the restoration without the help of the National Lottery Heritage Fund and YHCT and we are very thankful to them.”