Ten places of worship from across Yorkshire are celebrating this month after receiving a share of £74,000 to help towards the cost of repairs and maintenance work.
The grants have come from the Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust (YHCT), a charity set up to help churches, chapels and meeting houses with the increasing costs of repairs, restoration and maintenance needed to keep buildings functioning for their congregations and communities.
The much-needed funds will help a range of churches and chapels continue to offer warm and dry spaces for both worship and an increasing number of local community services.
One church receiving funds is St Stephen’s Church in Lindley, near Huddersfield. The church is Grade II, built 1828-1830.
The church is in need of urgent repair works to stop water leaking and causing further damage to the building, and the YHCT were delighted to award £8000 towards the repairs.
Church members and the community have worked hard to raise funds towards the cost of the repairs, with the vicar raising over £2000 undertaking a daring abseil!
St Stephen’s is much loved by the local community, hosting a number of events including a lunch for the elderly every month and is used for concerts by various choirs, orchestras and bands.
Priest in Charge Revd Abbie Palmer said: “We are so grateful to have received the support of YHCT to help us realise this project. With the building nearing its 200th anniversary, we want to ensure this beautiful, well-loved and well-used building is saved from further water damage and can be used to serve God’s mission here in Lindley for many years to come. This funding brings us closer to realising that vision”.
Tom Ramsden, Chairman of the YHCT said: “Thanks to the generosity of our Friends and donors, we have been able to support a wide range of places of worship. Over the past few years we have witnessed the important role churches play in bringing their local communities together and helping them thrive. Now, more than ever, they need our help to ensure those churches continue to support their communities for many years to come”.
The full list of churches receiving grants can be found here: https://www.yhct.org.uk/funding-news-2/
Grants continue to be available for repairs, restoration and maintenance to churches of any Christian denomination, including investigation grants. Full details can be found on the website here: https://www.yhct.org.uk/grants/
