Seventeen grants totalling £66,025 were awarded to Suffolk churches by the Suffolk Historic Churches Trust at their October Grants Committee Meeting.
The successful churches are in Aspall, Beccles, Brent Eleigh, Elmswell, Felixstowe, Gt Waldingfield, Hawkedon, Hundon, Lound, Stoke by Nayland, Stratford St Mary, Walton, Westleton, Woodbridge, Worlingworth, Rede and Yaxley.
The work that will be undertaken in the churches include improving lighting and paths, renovations of wall paintings, and window, roof and general repairs.
“The Trust was delighted to be in a position to award a record number of grants in October. The volume of applications received demonstrates once again the commitment of those who undertake the responsibility of caring for our church buildings”, said John Devaux, Chairman of the Grants Committee.
On his Suffolk Churches website Simon Knott describes the unusual 1913 wall painting in the Grade One listed St Christophers church in Lound:
“This St Christopher is a jolly bearded fellow bearing a smiling Christchild. Fish swim, in the water about the saint’s feet and beside the water mill on the bank, a man stands with a heavy horse, The Rolls Royce being driven up the road behind the mill is a self-portrait by Ninian Comper, and when the painting was restored in the 1960’s the elderly Comper ordered a passenger jet plane to be added, flying above the Christchilds head.”
The grant money is raised by the annual Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride Day and the Suffolk Churches vintage and classic car rally Pedal & Drive held on the same day. Always held on the second Saturday in September, the event started in Suffolk and has now spread across the country. In 2025 it will be held on Saturday 13th September.
There are four Grants Meetings scheduled a year and any church, chapel or meeting house, of any denomination can apply.
There are more details of how to make a grant application on www.shct.org.uk.