Latest Grants announced!

As the Suffolk Historic Churches Trust continue their 50^th anniversary year, twelve churches – seven in West Suffolk, five in East Suffolk – will receive grants following the quarterly meeting of the Trust’s Grants Committee. The grants awarded this time total £37,660 and the money is raised from sponsorship money from Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride, the Pedal and Drive car rally, and some legacies.

The October grants went to parish churches in Kedington, Brandeston, Hitcham, Melton, Herringswell, Gt Bricett, Walton, Lawshall, Raydon, Walsham-le-Willows, Debenham and St Margaret’s, Ipswich, and ranged from £660 to £6000. (Churches of any denomination and age can apply).

St Mary’s, Walsham le Willow ( Photos: Simon Knott)

The work was for various schemes including replacing 1980’s lighting in Melton church, and re-tiling the nave roof and repairs to the tower at Herringswell . In Gt Bricett the money is needed to remove internal concrete render and re-render in lime mortar, whilst at Lawshall they have to stabilise a beam in the tower that has sheared at one end, meaning the church will remain closed until this is rectified.

“At its October meeting the Grants Committee of Suffolk Historic Churches Trust made awards to twelve Suffolk churches including St Mary’s, Walsham-le-Willows in the north, St Mary’s, Raydon in the south, St Mary’s, Walton in the east and St Ethelbert’s, Herringswell in the west,” explained Grants Committee Chairman, John Devaux. “The total cost of the work to the twelve churches is approximately £464,000 with one church having to find £130,000. At the beginning of October, the combined shortfall in funding came to approximately £215,000. It is hoped that some of the Trust awards will strengthen applications made by churches to additional fund holders, some of whom require that applicants will already have raised up to fifty per cent of the total sum required.”