£200k awarded to church

A CHURCH in Measham has been given almost £200,000 to restore its stained glass windows and stonework.

St Laurence Church, in High Street, has been awarded £195,800 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to carry out the repair work.

The grant will be added to others from Leicestershire Historic Churches Trust, The Jack Patston Trust, All Churches Trust and the Headley Trust.

It will be used to restore the stonework and windows, as well as the south porch and tower.

Glass will be removed, cleaned and restored, with leftover glass from the construction of the Willesley estate being incorporated into one of the windows.

Wheelchair and pushchair access at the front of the church will also be created.

Brian Abraham, of St Laurence’s Parochial Church Council, said: “By revealing the fruits of our research, a programme will be offered to make the heritage of the church more accessible to the local community, schools and visitors.”

The building project is under way and is expected to be completed in spring 2019.

After the restoration has been completed, activities such as hard-hat tours and sessions to learn about the church’s history will be on offer to visitors.

The church will be holding an open day, where visitors can learn more about the church and its history, on Saturday, November 24, between 10am and 4pm.