Grants help churches stand tall

The grants will be spent on essential repair work

Three historic churches in Teesside and Northumberland have been awarded grants to repair their spires.

Stockton United Reformed Church, one of the town's best-known landmarks, has been given £154,000 from English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Holy Trinity, on the banks of the River Pont in Matfen, will receive £21,000, and the Gothic St John the Baptist in Alnmouth, £8,000.

In each case, the cash will be spent on much-needed structural repairs.

It is part of a £6.87m package for repairs to more than 70 churches and chapels around England.

Stockton United Reformed Church boasts the tallest spire in the town and was built as a Presbyterian place of worship 140 years ago.

At that time, it served the Scottish community, many of whom had come to the town to take up jobs in Teesside's booming chemical industries.

Rev Colin Offor said: "The church is active in the community and the building is used for cultural and social events as well as for worship.

"This grant will enable us to continue to be of service to the town."