Churches given £2.5m for repairs

Historic churches and chapels in the east of England are to be given nearly £2.5m to carry out repairs.

Of the 33 Grade I and II listed buildings chosen for the English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund grants, 14 are in Norfolk.

Four are in Bedfordshire, three in Cambridgeshire, three in Essex, seven in Hertfordshire and two in Suffolk.

The biggest grant of £112,000 is going to the parish church of St Mary's in Tunstead, Norfolk.

Places of worship are close to the heartbeat of our communities English Heritage regional director Greg Luton

English Heritage regional director Greg Luton said the grants scheme contribution was "a drop in the ocean" compared with the sums raised by dedicated volunteers and popular support.

"Places of worship are close to the heartbeat of our communities - the baptisms, weddings and funerals of the people we love take place in these buildings.

"This is why so many people, believers and non-believers alike, care about places of worship and, confronted with their imminent loss, invariably rally around to save them."

Grant offers

Norfolk: St Giles, Colby (£61,000); St Nicholas, Dereham (£43,000); St Peter, Forncett St Peter (£33,000); Holy Innocents, Foulsham (£37,000); St Mary, Gissing (£76,000); St Peter and St Paul, Halvergate (£67,000); St Catherine, Ludham (£36,000); St Mary, Marlingford (£42,000);St Mary, Northrepps (£35,000); St George, Norwich (£81,000); St Mary, Tunstead (£112,000); St Andrew, West Dereham, (£76,000); St Andrew, Wood Dalling (£45,000); All Saints, Wretton (£66,000).

Hertfordshire: St Lawrence, Ardeley (£50,000); Ayot St Lawrence (£47,000); St Peter, Benington (£106,000); St Giles, Codicote (£87,000); St Ethelreda, Hatfield (£59,000); St John the Baptist, Royston (£39,000); Holy Trinity, Throcking (£78,000).

Bedfordshire: All Saints, Caddington (£34,000); St Peter and St Paul, Cranfield ( £109,000); St Peter, Sharnbrook (£85,000); St Lawrence, Wymington (£58,000).

Cambridgeshire: St Andrews, Cherry Hinton (£69,000); All Saints, Harston (£20,000); St Michael & All Angels (£95,000).

Essex: St Botolph, Hadstock (£51,000); All Saints, High Laver (£49,000); St Andrew, White Colne (£41,000).

Suffolk: All Saints Church, Mettingham (£43,000); St Peter's Church, Moulton (£22,000).