Lottery cash for church

A historic village church has been awarded more than £200,000 of lottery funds to create a heritage centre.

The Pluckley Parochial Church Council (PCC) applied for funding to the Heritage Lottery Fund in a bid to create the visitor centre at St Nicholas Church, which has been a place of worship for more than 900 years.

The heritage centre project will see the construction of a new building at the back of the church, and will also provide funds to renovate the grade 1 listed building.

Pluckley PCC project leader Barry Stratton said the church is a focal point for the community and is used by 20 community groups as well as the village primary school.

Mr Stratton said: “We are really delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has given us this funding. There is great enthusiasm in the village and we are busy collecting lots of fascinating historical information and archive material.”

Renovation work inside the church will including repairing the south aisle, south porch, Dering Chapel and the eastern and southern sides of the chancel.

Work is expected to start after Easter and will be completed by September.