The grants are offering much-needed funds to the North East’s places of worship at risk including St Andrew’s Church in Roker, Sunderland; St Matthew’s Church in Newcastle; and St Andrew’s Church in Winston, County Durham.

This money comes from the Repair Grants for Places of Worship scheme, which is currently funded by HLF and administered by English Heritage. In June 2013, it will be superseded by HLF’s new £30million, UK-wide Grants for Places of Worship programme. This new initiative will continue to prioritise urgent structural repairs; however it will also enable applicants to apply for funding to support new works - such as the provision of toilets and kitchens - that will improve the functionality of these precious buildings making them fit for the future. 

Ivor Crowther, Head of HLF North East, said: “Historic places of worship form prominent and much-loved landmarks in our villages, towns and cities across the North East. They are unique buildings that bring local communities together for a variety of reasons from worship through to culture and leisure. Since 1994, the Heritage Lottery Fund has invested more than £500million into these precious buildings across the UK and with these new grants we aim to ensure even more are secured for future generations to enjoy.” 

Carol Pyrah, English Heritage Planning and Conservation Director for North East, said: “Listed places of worship make up an elemental part of the historic fabric of England. It is crucial they are cared for and repaired. Thanks to the joint working between the Heritage Lottery Fund and English Heritage these wonderful buildings, which mean so much to so many, will remain part of our story for years to come.”

£58,000 has been awarded to the St Andrew’s Church in Winston, County Durham. This Grade I listed mid-13th century church was restored by John Dobson in 1848. It is built of sandstone rubble with roughly-dressed quoins with mid-19th century dressed sandstone with renewed Welsh slate roofs. This grant will be used for the re-roofing of the chancel along with stonework repairs at parapet level and investigation of movement at the east gable of the chancel.

 £107,000 has been awarded to Christ Church in Shieldfield, Newcastle. This Grade II* parish church dates from 1859-61 and was built by A.B. Higham. Construction is of squared sandstone with ashlar dressings and with Welsh slate roofs. In order to create a sustainable future, the church is now working in partnership with the NE Circus Development Trust whose long term aim is to run a circus training school on site alongside regular worship. This grant will be used for repairs to the roof and rainwater goods.

Notes to editors

The Repair Grants for Places of Worship in England Scheme was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and administered by English Heritage on behalf of both organisations. 

Until 2010, the scheme was jointly funded by HLF and EH. Since then, HLF had provided the majority of the funding to ensure that the scheme continued in its current form until June 2013.

Listed places of worship in England of all denominations and faiths were eligible for grants which support urgent repairs to the fabric of the building with a focus on projects costing less than £250,000. There was a two-stage application process with development funding available at Stage One to help work up proposals. This scheme is now closed to new applications. 

Grants for Places of Worship

HLF’s Grants for Places of Worship Programme is now open to applications. It is funded and administered solely by the Heritage Lottery Fund in England, Wales and Northern Ireland although English Heritage continues to provide expert advice in England.

In Scotland, the new programme is jointly funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic Scotland.

English Heritage is the Government’s statutory advisor on the historic environment.  It provides advice on how best to conserve England’s heritage for the benefit of everyone.  While most of England’s heritage is in private hands, it works with all who come into contact with it - landowners, businesses, planners and developers, national, regional and local government, the Third Sector, local communities and the general public -  to help them understand, value, care for and enjoy England’s historic environment.

It is also entrusted with the custodianship of over 400 sites and monuments which together form the national collection of built and archaeological heritage. These include some of the most important monuments of human history such as Stonehenge and Hadrian’s Wall.

Further information

HLF Press Office: Natasha Ley or Alison Scott on 020 7591 6143 / 6035 or  07973 613 820 or natashal@hlf.org.uk.