Heritage grant for church repairs

Five churches in the East Midlands with Grade II listing will benefit from £445,000 for essential repairs.

The Heritage Lottery Fund and English Heritage announced the grants for Derbyshire and Lincolnshire.

St Paul's church in Derby, the Church of St James in Codnor and Christ Church in Ironville will share £292,000.

In Lincolnshire, the Church of All Saints in Wainfleet and the Church of St Lawrence in Fulstow have been awarded £152,000.

'Historic backbone'

The largest grant is for the Church of St Paul, in Chester Green, where £140,000 will be used to re-slate the roof and repair the leadworks, roof lights, drainage and guttering.

The Church of St James will receive £68,000 for re-slating the nave roof, masonry work and other repairs.

Christ Church has been offered £84,000 for work including re-slating the nave and associated timberwork repairs.

The Church of All Saints in Wainfleet All Saints has been granted £107,000 to re-slate part of the nave roof, improve the ground drainage and repair water damaged plaster ceiling panels.

The Church of St Lawrence will also get £46,000 to re-slate the nave and roof slopes as well as drainage and guttering work.

Dr Anthony Streeten, regional director for English Heritage in the East Midlands, said: "Churches and chapels across the East Midlands are the spiritual, communal and historic backbone of our villages, towns and cities.

"Repair grants for places of worship are intended to ensure that these valuable parts of our heritage remain in use by the communities that enjoy them."