The grants are offering much needed funds to the North West’s places of worship at risk including St George’s Church in Everton, Liverpool; St Phillip’s Church in Salford; St Oswald’s Church in Winwick, Warrington; and the Church of St Phillip and St James in Cheshire.

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 In June 2013, it will be superseded by HLF’s new £30million, UK-wide Grants for Places of Worship programme.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. 

Sara Hilton, Head of HLF North West, said: “Historic places of worship form prominent and much loved landmarks in our villages, towns and cities across the North West. 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.” 

Henry Owen-John, English Heritage Planning and Conservation Director for North West, said: “Listed places of worship make up an elemental part of the historic fabric of England. They are familiar and much loved landmarks and 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.”

£276,000 has been awarded to St Oswald in Winwick, Warrington. This Grade I rural church has fabric dating from the early 13th century. It also has evidence of further developments, including the building of a tower in the mid-14th century, 16th century extensions to the nave walls and north arcade, the addition of a south porch in 1720, the rebuilding of the south arcade in 1836 and then further works to the chancel, sanctuary and vestry by AWN Pugin between 1847-49.  This grant will be used for the continuation of the repairs to ceilings and the addition of a new roof.

£195,000 has been awarded St Phillip, situated at the civic heart of Salford. A neo-classical import from London, it dates to the early 19th century and provides a venue for a wide range of musical and art activities. This grant will focus on the iconic column portico and tiered classical landmark tower to reverse the corrosion and damage caused by ironwork cramp inclusion and some very poor repair work carried out in the 1960’s.

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.