Shrewsbury church delight after heritage body gives £220,000 towards repairs

Officials at St Chad's Church in Shrewsbury have claimed the money will ensure community activities and engagements such as Remembrance Day services, public lectures and university graduation ceremonies can take place in the future.

The grade I-listed church, which overlooks the Quarry park and River Severn and attracts 50,000 tourists every year, has been given the money for repairs by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Repairs will be carried out to the roof of the church's unusual circular nave and vestibule, the stonework of the cornice and insulation above the ceiling. The bill for the work could rise to is about £300,000.

It comes after church wardens received a letter from English Heritage that it's Grade I listed Georgian building had been placed on the organisation's 'at risk' register until urgent repair work is undertaken on the roof of the nave and inner vestibule.

Amanda Venner, parish administrator, said the grant was "exciting" for the church.

She said: "We were awarded it some time ago but of course we haven't been able to say anything until now but now We've told the congregation and they're delighted, it's really good news for us.

"We were told the work would cost £250,000 to sort out and of course we were scratching our heads because years back we had to raise £750,000 for the tower which was deemed 'at risk' and our congregation were fantastic in raising those funds. They're a wonderful and loyal congregation but we knew we couldn't possibly ask them again. So, thankfully, the remainder of the funds have been secured from the Friends of St Chad's Memorial Fund, the Owen Family Trust and the Listed Places of Work Grant Scheme."

Survey work at the church was undertaken for the last quinquennial report and submitted to the Parochial Church Council in November 2013.

The funds will also enable the church to undertake further community, education and tourism projects.

Ms Venner said if St Chad's had not managed to secure the funding it would have put it "in jeopardy" of being able to continue with its community and civic engagements.

She said: "St Chad's is an extremely important venue in Shrewsbury. It hosts university graduation ceremonies, school speech days, public lectures and major civic occasions like mayor making, Remembrance Sunday and Battle of Britain events.

"It's also a major venue for concerts with excellent acoustics and a seating capacity of 1,200 – making it the largest indoor venue in Shrewsbury, as well as being very involved in community projects to support the disadvantaged.

"It's a building that the public worship in, as well as so many members of the community using it, that we have to be so mindful of safety. It's crucial."

The funding will also enable further education work with schools to take place, as well as developing projects on Georgian Shrewsbury, and also fund further work to be undertaken to welcome visitors with new reception facilities and interpretational materials.

A new sound system will also be installed as part of the project.

Ms Venner added: "St Chad's is most grateful for the support received from the Heritage Lottery Fund to undertake this repair work, and these education and community projects."