More than a dozen of the North West's most historic places of worship are to share in £2.1 million of funding for vital repairs, it was announced today (3 March 2006).
English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) are pumping £17.5 million into work on 147 Grade I and II* listed churches and chapels across England, with 15 sites benefiting in the North West.
Since 2002 £62 million of repair grants has been awarded to more than 700 historic places of worship through the joint scheme, which is the largest single source of funds for work of this kind.
...
St Mary, Stockport - Vital work is needed to repair damage to stonework and masonry features high above the congregation's heads. A £129,000 grant has been offered to this church, which has a Grade A rating - an old classification equivalent to being listed at Grade I or Grade II*."
I had never heard of Grade A before.
The challenges facing England's places of worship will be addressed in May this year when English Heritage launches its Inspired! Campaign, which will quantify the scale of the problem and propose solutions - as well as promoting a greater recognition of the work done by devoted volunteers to keep these invaluable parts of the national heritage alive.
For the full article, click here. For English Heritage's page on Inspired, click the image below.
