Dozen East Anglian churches benefit from grants boost

Published by Keith Morris at January 11, 2024

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Around a dozen East Anglian Catholic churches 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.

They include: Our Lady and English Martyrs in Cambridge (£55,476.37), Cathedral of St John the Baptist, Norwich (£25,606.57), Our Lady of Consolation and St Stephen, Lynford, Thetford (£27,027.25), St Mary’s, Great Yarmouth (£12,149), St Nicholas’ church, Pakefield (£3822), St Peter and All Souls, Peterborough (£7323), St Peter the Apostle, Gorleston (£797).

Diocese Historic Churches Support Officer, Matthew Champion, said: “Almost a dozen Catholic churches across the Diocese of East Anglia have recently benefitted from this scheme, including the Cathedral of St John the Baptist in Norwich, and the grade one listed Church of Our Lady and English Martyrs in Cambridge, as well as many smaller sites.

“The Listed Places of Worship grant scheme offers a real helping hand to many of our parishes, and makes a significant contribution to ensuring the on-going preservation of the Catholic heritage of East Anglia. Without this scheme many of the programmes of repair and conservation would be so much the harder, and we are continuingly grateful for the support of the government for these important places of worship.”

Arts and Heritage Minister, Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay, said: “As churches across the country filled 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.”

Article extracts from 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.