Bid to get grant to repair Whitchurch church fails
Church officials have failed to secure a major grant to carry out works at a town’s church.
The money was applied for from the Heritage Lottery Fund to pay for stone work repairs at St Alkmund’s Church in Whitchurch – but the repairs were not deemed "urgent" enough.
It follows an inspection of the church last year which found that work was needed to improve the Church Street building.
The Rev Judy Hunt said she will now look to secure other grants to allow the work to be carried out.
She said: "We submitted a grant application to the Heritage Lottery Fund Grants for Places of Worship scheme, but our repairs were not deemed to be urgent enough. This scheme has now closed.
"I will look at other possible grants – including the HLF Heritage Grants programme – but I haven’t had time to do that yet.
"We would also like to do some work on the interior of the church – put in a disabled toilet facility and create some extra flexible space at the back of church and in the Lady Chapel.
"To do all the work would probably amount to £300,000 to £400,000."
Meanwhile, work is continuing on restoring stained glass windows in the church as part of a £70,000 scheme.
Last year the most important stained glass window at the central east window was taken out and had every fragment restored or repaired.
Earlier this year another one of the windows was sent away for restoration.
Rev Hunt said: "The central window and north east windows have been done. Scaffolding moved around on Tuesday to enable work on the south east window to begin. Recclesia should begin the work of taking out the window either this week or next Tuesday."
During a meeting in July the Parochial Church Council also agreed to renew all the bell ropes at a cost of £1,536 and upgrade the electrics within the tower at a cost of about £1,470.
Also last month, a new ramp costing almost £50,000 was unveiled at the church.
Rev Hunt added: “Many people will benefit from this ramp, be they Whitchurch residents or visitors. It will help those in wheelchairs or with mobility scooters, and any who find steps difficult – including those with pushchairs or buggies.”
