Major Boost for ‘At Risk’ Church in Peterborough

A multi-million-pound restoration project to save one of Peterborough’s most historically significant churches has taken a vital step forward this week, with the announcement of support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

St Peter and All Souls, a Grade II listed Roman Catholic church in the heart of the city, has secured an initial grant of £218,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, marking a crucial milestone in its ambitious restoration plans.

Designed by renowned Victorian architect Leonard Stokes, the church was built between 1895 and 1904 in the Gothic Revival style. A striking city landmark and the spiritual home of a thriving parish community, the building has suffered from serious structural issues for decades. Shortly after construction, large cracks began to appear due to unstable ground conditions beneath the site, eventually placing the church on Historic England’s ‘Heritage at Risk’ register.

Detailed structural surveys commissioned by the parish revealed extensive subsidence, with engineers warning that without urgent intervention the building faced the very real threat of collapse. The full restoration and stabilisation works are expected to cost in excess of £2 million.

In response, the parish launched an ambitious programme of fundraising and community engagement events, temporarily shoring up the structure with external scaffolding while planning for the future. To date, nearly a quarter of the required funds have been raised through local efforts.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s support represents a major step forward. This development phase grant will fund the next phase of the project, enabling the appointment of specialist consultants to develop a detailed restoration plan and move the project towards delivery. Major works are hoped to begin in 2026.

Fr Karol Porczak, Parish Priest at St Peter and All Souls, said:

“This church is not just a building – it is the heart of our community and a place where generations have come together in faith, celebration, and support. We are deeply thankful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and to all who have helped us reach this point. This is a moment of hope for us and for the city.”

Matthew Champion, Heritage Officer for the Roman Catholic Diocese of East Anglia, added:

“St Peter and All Souls is a fantastic building in the heart of the city that represents a significant part of Peterborough’s heritage, as well as acting as a centre for the vibrant local community. However, the building is suffering a number of very serious structural issues that pose a very real threat to its survival. The parish has worked tirelessly for many years to plan and raise funds to undertake the much-needed repairs to this cherished building, and we are all very grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for supporting us in our hour of need.”

Angelo Cuenca, Parish Council Chairman said:

“The historic church of St. Peter and All Souls is a home of our faith as parishioners. We may have come from different nationalities, cultures and speak a range of languages but under this one roof we express a universal Catholic Faith in praise and prayer. We would love for future generations to have what we have, a place of worship. We are grateful for all the support from the Diocese of East Anglia, our parish community, and the National Lottery for working with us towards its fruition.”

Since 1994, The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded £9.5 billion, raised by National Lottery players, to over 53,000 heritage projects across the UK, making it the largest dedicated funder of heritage in the country.

About The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Grant applications over £250,000 are assessed in two rounds. Repairing the Rock: Saving St Peter’s and All Souls has initially been granted round one development phase funding of £218,324 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, allowing it to progress with its plans. Detailed proposals are then considered by the Heritage Fund at second round, where a final decision is made on the full potential funding award of £1,568,771.

Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.

Over the next 10 years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities. heritagefund.org.uk Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter/X, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLottery #HeritageFund

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