Eleven grants totalling £59,000 were awarded to Suffolk churches by the Suffolk Historic Churches Trust at their January Grants Committee Meeting.
The successful churches are in Blaxhall, Coddenham, Felixstowe, Gt Cornard, Gt Finborough, Hadleigh, Ipswich, Leiston, Lt Saxham, Polstead, and Wixoe, and include a Methodist church and a Quaker Meeting House, as well as parish churches.
The work that will be undertaken in the churches include installing toilets and kitchens, improving heating and a wide range of repairs.
“During the year 2024-5 the Grants Committee has considered 49 applications from across Suffolk. After a record number of awards (17) in October the year has ended with 11 awards in January. In this final quarter the Trust has been able to make grants amounting to 20% of the total outstanding shortfall in funding of the 11 churches,” said John Devaux, Chairman of the Grants Committee.
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. This year 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.
Grants awarded in January 2025
The Grants for January were:
Blaxhall, St Peter Tower repairs
Coddenham, St Mary Window and stonework
Felixstowe, Trinity Methodist Install kitchen
Gt Cornard, St Andrew Re-ordering, WC and kitchen
Gt Finborough, St Andrew Porch windows
Hadleigh, St Mary Heating chandeliers
Ipswich, St Helen West window repair
Leiston, Quaker Meeting House Renew heating
Lt Saxham, St Nicholas Window repairs
Polstead, St Mary Tower repairs
Wixoe, St Leonard Re-tiling roofs
The next Grants Meeting is on 14th April. Click HERE for how to apply.