8 churches from across Yorkshire are celebrating this month after being awarded over £38,000 for essential repairs to roofs, towers and windows.
Funding ranged from £750 to All Saints in Huddersfield to hire a cherry picker, to £7000 towards vital roof and stone repairs at Sacred Heart in Howden.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church has a colourful history. Protests were held when the church first opened over 165 years ago, coming just a few years after the Catholic emancipation, and disturbing stories have been uncovered of many men from the area being hanged in large numbers for practising Catholism. A simple poignant wooden plaque in the church commemorates the Howdenshire Martyrs, the men who died for their faith over a 100 year period.
Also receiving funding were:
Victoria Stafford Road Methodist – £4500 for roof repairs
Holy Trinity, Idle – £3000 for repairs to East window.
Garforth Methodist church – £5000 for roof repairs.
St James the Apostle, Selby – £4000 for roof and associated repairs.
St Matthew, Chapel Allerton – £3500 for roof repairs.
St Mary, Middleton – £11000 for floor repairs and organ chamber roof repairs.
The next committee meeting will be held in June, with the deadline for applications the 28th April.