Grants for Places of Worship
St Brandon's in Brancepeth is an outstanding medieval church with features dating from the 12th century. It also holds the largest collection of medieval cross slabs in the North of England.
In 1998, a devastating fire damaged most of the church, which began a period of repair and rebuilding. This grant supported the restoration work and activities to engage the community with the church's heritage.
The work included:
- stonework repairs
- restoration to the North Porch
- other masonry repairs
Church volunteers organised guided tours and a heritage training day was held, in which participants learned how to examine the church's structure and traditional restoration techniques, such as lime pointing. The church is producing a leaflet, updating the website and promoting itself as a cultural space.
On completion of the project, the church is structurally secure and watertight. It can be enjoyed by visitors who can also learn about its history.