Grant boost for church targeted by thieves
LIFELINE funding has been awarded to St Wilfrid’s Church in North Muskham, as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to help pay for repairs during the coronavirus pandemic.
Lifeline grants from the Culture Recovery Fund are designed to protect heritage sites and ensure that jobs and access to culture and heritage in local communities are protected during the months ahead.
St Wilfrid’s has been awarded £22,500 for essential construction work which will stop water seeping through the roof in the nave and the porch after the lead was stolen several years ago.
The grant comes a crucial point because, if it was left much longer, the damage to the much-loved church would have been beyond repair.
Grants of up to £25,000 are being allocated to cherished heritage sites, like St Wilfrid’s, across the country to cover urgently needed maintenance and repairs. This vital funding comes from a part of the Culture Recovery Fund called the Heritage Stimulus Fund and is administered on behalf of the government by Historic England.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said:
“These grants will help the places that have shaped our skylines for hundreds of years and that continue to define culture in our towns and cities. We’re protecting heritage and culture in every corner of the country to save jobs and ensure it’s there for future generations to enjoy.”
St Wilfrid’s Church has played an important role in the community since it opened its doors for the first time in the 12th century. The Grade 1-listed building has many groundbreaking features. For example, the three arches of the north arcade, supported on octagonal shafted pillars, are probably the earliest in Nottingham and have stone seats round the bases, which were used by the sick and infirm before benches were introduced into churches. The Rev Georgie Hadley, of St Wilfrid’s, said: “We are very grateful to receive this funding from the Culture Recovery Fund.
“It will enable us to complete the work on our church roof because of the theft of the lead.
“St Wilfrid’s will be warmer and more welcoming with a roof so that the church can continue to play an important part in the life of our community.”