The money comes from the Repair Grants for Places of Worship scheme*, which is funded by HLF and administered by English Heritage.

Across the region these vital grants will help repair places of worship at risk including St Michael and All Angels in Thornhill and Doncaster Minster.

Fiona Spiers, Head of HLF for Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “Historic places of worship are an irreplaceable part of our heritage that continues to play a vital role within local communities today. In the last ten years, the Heritage Lottery Fund has invested £155million into these wonderful buildings and I am delighted we are able to continue supporting congregations across Yorkshire to safeguard them for future generations.”

Trevor Mitchell, English Heritage Planning Director for Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “We are delighted that these important buildings will benefit from HLF funding and English Heritage’s expert advice. We know that maintaining places of worship and developing them sensitively is a major challenge and we are glad to work with the inspiring volunteers who make repairs and enhancements happen.  Such fine buildings are a great resource, as places of spiritual discovery, landmarks, events venues, places of solace and architectural treasures. These grants celebrate both what they are and can be, whilst supporting the people who care for them on behalf of us all.”

St Michael and All Angels, Thornhill
Grant:  £98,000
Grade I listed, of Anglo-Saxon origins, the oldest surviving parts of this church are the 15th-century tower, chancel and chancel chapels. The Savile chapel on the north was first built in 1447 and extended eastwards in 1493. The church was heavily restored in 1877-9 by the architect G.E. Street. This grant will enable repairs to the medieval east window of the Savile chapel and also three monuments.

Doncaster Minster (St George’s)
Grant:  £291,000
Built in 1854-58 by Sir George Gilbert Scott, St George’s is without doubt the most magnificent of any of the architect’s parish churches and listed at Grade I. St George’s is cathedral-like in scale, with a high lofty interior (the nave is 75 feet high) and an impressive crossing tower which, at 170 feet, dominates the skyline of Doncaster, making it a landmark for many miles around. Funding will enable high level repairs to the roof, renewing gutters, masonry repairs to parapets, pinnacles and clerestory of the north transept and glazing work to the clerestory windows.

Notes to editors

*The Repair Grants for Places of Worship in England Scheme is 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 has provided the majority of the funding to ensure that the scheme continues in its current form until 2013.

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

To be eligible for the next round of funding, applicants need to apply by 30th June for Grade I and II* and 30th September for Grade II listed places of worship. www.english-heritage.org.uk

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

Natasha Ley or Lydia Davies, HLF Press Office on 020 7591 6143/6035 or 07973 613 820 or natashal@hlf.org.uk