Norfolk churches receive share of £42m funding
Around 200 churches in Norfolk are among 5,000 across the United Kingdom that have benefitted from a £42 million Government conservation fund in the past 12 months.
The Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme (LPW) supports the protection of religious buildings representing all faiths and denominations, benefiting local communities and 4,900 places of worship have benefited from Government support over the last year to ease the cost of essential conservation and maintenance work.
In Norfolk they include: St Margaret de Westwick, Norwich (£91k), Norwich Anglican Cathedral (£75k), St Andrews Church, Congham, King’s Lynn (£52k), St Michael Coslany, Norwich (£25k), Our Lady of Consolation and St Stephen, Lynford, Thetford (£27k), Catholic Cathedral of St John the Baptist, Norwich (£26k), St Michael and All Angels, Norwich (£25k) and Church of St James the Great, Castle Acre (£25k).
Arts and Heritage Minister, Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay, said: “As churches across the country fill up for Nativity plays and Christmas services, it’s a reminder of the huge role that they and other places of worship play in the lives of their community.
“The Listed Places of Worship Scheme supports these precious buildings, which are cherished by people of all faiths and none. With nearly 5,000 supported over the past year alone, I’m glad to see the difference it has made to visitors, worshippers, and the people who look after them for the benefit of future generations.”
The Bishop of Norwich Graham Usher said: “As 95pc of churches in the Diocese of Norwich are listed, this is of particular value to us in Norfolk and Waveney. We are very grateful for this support and look forward to it continuing long-term.”
Major beneficiaries of the scheme in Norfolk include:
Our Lady of Consolation & St Stephen, Lynford, Thetford, IP26 5EL - £27,027.25
Norwich Cathedral, Norwich, NR1 4DH - £74,922.33
St Michael & All Angels (Aylsham Parish Church) Aylsham, NR11 6EH - £12,981.28
St Michael & All Angels, Norwich, NR12 9SG - £25,256.33
St Nicholas, Bracon Ash, Norwich, NR14 8HJ - £11,307.12
Carleton Rode Baptist Church, Norwich, NR16 1RN -£27,406.38
Wilby Parish Church, Norwich, NR16 2JP - £14,065.17
St Marys Church, Dereham, NR19 2QQ - £12,033.74
RC Cathedral of St John the Baptist, Norwich, NR2 2PA - £25,606.57
St Margaret de Westwick, Norwich, NR2 4PG - £91,557.60
St Marys Church, Dereham, NR20 3DH - £22,127.52
St. Nicholas Parish Church, Wells-next-the-Sea, NR23 1EQ - £13,712.16
All Saints Priory Church, Weybourne, NR25 7SY - £2,049.97St Marys Wiveton, Holt, NR25 7TL - £17,722.74
St Margarets Church, North Walsham, NR28 9TA - £13,832.71
Church of St Mary the Virgin, NR29 4EU - £12,149.06
St Michael Coslany, Norwich, NR3 3AE - £25,167.81
Church of St Michael and All Angels, NR34 0LP - £14,865.62
St Mary's Church, King's Lynn, PE31 8LH - £10,749.93
St Andrews Church, Congham, King’s Lynn, PE32 1DT - £52,141.11
Church of St James the Great, Castle Acre, PE32 2AE - £25,452.34
Article extracts from EDP24 and Gov.uk
Pictured above is St John the Baptist Catholic Cathedral in Norwich which received £26k from the LPW grant scheme. Picture by Keith Morris.