£1.3m funding for church repairs

Doncaster Minster was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott

Fourteen churches in Yorkshire and the Humber are to benefit from more than £1.3m funding for repairs.

The main beneficiary will be Doncaster Minster which will get £344,000 for repairs to its chapel.

Churches in Howden, Kirklees, Leeds and North Lincolnshire will also get a major share of the fund.

The grants have been put together by English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund and is aimed at grade I and grade II* listed buildings.

Churches receiving funding Peter and Paul, Howden, East Yorkshire - £151,000 All Saints, Londesborough, East Yorkshire - £44,000 St Mary the Virgin, Wansford, East Yorkshire - £50,000 St Giles, Bielby, East Yorkshire - £56,000 St Mary, Dalton Home, East Yorkshire - £28,000 St Bartholomew, Appleby, North Lincolnshire - £47,000 Doncaster Minster, South Yorkshire - £334,000 St Paul's, Healy, North Yorkshire - £63,000 St Saviourgate Unitarian Chapel, York, North Yorkshire - £60,000 St Andrew's, Weaverthorpe, North Yorkshire - £54,000 St Barnabas, Weeton, North Yorkshire - £142,000 St Peter's, Kirkthorpe, We4st Yorkshire - £84,000 All Hallows, Kirkburton, North Yorkshire - £118,0000 Holy Trinity, Boar Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire - £92,000

The grade I-listed cathedral-like Doncaster Minster, also known as the parish church of St George, is considered to be one of Sir George Gilbert Scott's masterpieces.

He is the architect responsible for London's St Pancras.

Its Forman Chapel needs a new roof as well as repairs to its masonry and piping.

David Fraser, Yorkshire regional director at English Heritage, said: "The positive impact of this scheme on the region's most important religious buildings cannot be underestimated.

"Congregations face huge challenges maintaining such places and in the past have often struggled to find resources to keep on top of essential repairs.

"These grants will ensure problems such as leaky roofs and crumbling masonry are nipped in the bud, before they become even more costly to fix."