Christmas funding boost for West Sussex church
An early Christmas gift arrived for a West Sussex church as it shares in a £421,000 urgent funding pay-out from the National Churches Trust.
On the recommendation of the National Churches Trust, Grade I Listed St Mary’s church in Balcombe will receive a £10,000 Wolfson Fabric Repair Grant from the Wolfson Foundation for roof and stonework repairs.
Broadcaster and journalist Huw Edwards, Vice President of the National Churches Trust, said:
"I’m delighted that St Mary’s church is receiving a Christmas funding boost for urgent roof and stonework repairs. This will safeguard unique local heritage and keep the church open and in use for the benefit of local people.”
“Whether seeking quiet reflection, access to community services or as a place to worship, the National Churches Trust helps hundreds of churches each year and with the support of local people, keeps them thriving today and tomorrow.”
Paul Ramsbottom, Chief Executive of the Wolfson Foundation said:
"As well as being places of worship and buildings of beauty, churches sit at the heart of the community. In many ways they stand between the past and present. We are thrilled to continue our partnership with the National Churches Trust to support the preservation of these significant, much-loved historic buildings across the UK.”
The project
St Mary’s is a Grade I listed building. In addition to the urgent need to repair weathering and water damage, elements of the church ceiling have fallen due to water saturation. The £10,000 Wolfson Fabric Repair Grant will facilitate urgent repairs to the roof, stonework, leadwork and repointing.
Fr David King, the new Rector of St Mary’s church, said
“We were overwhelmed to hear about this generous gift from the National Churches Trust! What a great Christmas present to receive. It will let us progress the much needed repairs and weatherproofing of the Church, securing this historic building for the present and for future generations.”
Help for churches
49 churches across the UK will stay open and in good repair thanks to £421,000 of funding awarded by the National Churches Trust in this latest round of grants.
In 2022, the National Churches Trust has made over 200 grants to churches throughout the United Kingdom with funding totalling more than £1.6m. This year, its funding also helped to remove 18 churches from the Historic England Heritage at Risk register.