Seventeen churches from across Yorkshire are celebrating this month after being awarded just under £70,000 from Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust for essential repairs, conservation and maintenance works.
The future of many churches is under threat due to crumbling roofs, windows and stonework. The YHCT works to ensure these places of worship are kept in good repair, recognising the contribution they make to society at large and the support they provide to local communities, especially during the ongoing Covid crisis.
The funding provides a vital lifeline to places of worship who have been unable to carry out their usual fundraising activities over the past year, and at a time when many are increasingly providing a number of essential services to local communities, such as post office services, food banks, homeless support, credit unions, as well as offering buildings that provide peace and comfort.
Funding was awarded to places of worship including Methodist, Anglican, Roman Catholic and Quaker denominations. Recipients include a meeting house in rural Malhamdale, the Grade I listed Rotherham Minster, St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Bradford and St Mary’s Chapel in Crathorne on the North Yorkshire Moors.
In many cases, the funding was awarded alongside other larger national grants, which means the vital repair works can now begin.
Tom Ramsden, Chairman of the Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust, said: “Thanks to the generosity of our Friends and donors, we have been able to support a range of places of worship, from the Portholme Methodist / United Reformed Church built in 1983 to the Grade I listed St Nicholas Church in Bawtry, originally built in 1189.” He continued: “Over the past eighteen months we have witnessed the important role churches play in their local communities and now, more than ever, they need our help to ensure they remain standing from many years to come”.
The full list of churches receiving grants are:
- All Saints Pavement, York – £4000 for fabric repairs https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/19728655.cash-saints-pavement-york-selby-portholme-church/
- St Peter, Woolley – £3500 for roof repairs
- St Mary’s Chapel, Snape – £4000 for step repairs
- All Saints & St James, Nunnington – £1880 for Bell frame repairs
- St Mary’s Chapel, Crathorne – £4000 for internal and external repairs
- Portholme Methodist Church, Selby – £3500 for re-roofing https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/19728655.cash-saints-pavement-york-selby-portholme-church/
- St Nicholas, High Bradfield – £4000 for boundary wall repairs
- St Nicholas, Bawtry – £7000 for repairs to tower roof, guttering and stonework
- St James the Great, Pudsey – £3000 for masonry and roof repairs https://westleedsdispatch.com/pudsey-church-and-community-hub-nets-slice-of-70k-repair-fund/
- St Joseph, Bradford – £3000 for roof repairs https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/19752366.historic-bradford-church-set-benefit-3-000-grant/
- St John, Menston – £4000 towards roof replacement https://www.wharfedaleobserver.co.uk/news/19741202.st-johns-menston-secures-funding-help-vital-roof-repairs/
- St Augustine, Skirlaugh – £6385 for stonework repairs
- St Helen, Marr – £3500 for parapet repairs
- Airton Quaker Meeting House – £5000 for fabric repairs
- Rotherham Minster – £5000 for great nave west window repairs
- Central Methodist, York – £4500 for roof repairs
- St Michael & All Angels, Middleton Tyas – £2500 for nave and chancel roof repairs