The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded greater than £7.3 million to assist maintain 4 historic churches.
The recipients are St Mary Le Strand (£4,630,000 awarded), St Mary Magdalene, Stockland (£2,057,916 awarded), St John the Baptist Church, Nash (£561,305 awarded) and St Monans Auld Kirk, Fife (£115,841 awarded plus a possible delivery grant of £1,876239).
St Mary le Strand will use the funds for its Jewel within the Strand Project, which goals to revive and redevelop the 18th century church and its gardens. It is hoped that the project will allow the church to open its doors to the various people and communities who go through and live within the cultural centre of London.
Canon Peter Babington, Priest in Charge of St Mary le Strand, said, “We are hugely grateful to the players of the National Lottery. This generous grant will help transform St Mary le Strand for generations to come back and to change into once more the Jewel within the Strand.”
Ruth Duston OBE, OC, Chief Executive of London Heritage Quarter, said, “St Mary le Strand is a much-loved landmark at the guts of the Northbank district and the transformed Strand Aldwych, and we’re delighted to see this excellent funding awarded.
“This investment is not going to only help secure the church’s future but may also enrich the cultural lifetime of the realm for everybody who lives, works and visits here.”
St Mary Magdalene in Stockland is a Grade II listed church and can use its award to conduct vital structural repairs to the tower and roof. The church’s Parallel Lives project goals to have the constructing faraway from Historic England’s “At Risk” register. Work may also be undertaken to enhance facilities and accessibility.
St John the Baptist Church in Nash, one other Grade II listed constructing, shall be using the funds to repair its tower, south nave roof and its rare early Reformation spire which dates to 1562. Also like St Mary Magdalene, it’s hoped that the work will allow the church to be faraway from the “At Risk” register.
Finally, St Monans Auld Kirk in Fife, which is one among the oldest churches in Scotland, dating back to the medieval period, is attempting to rework right into a social hub, café and heritage destination. The Church of Scotland had announced plans to sell the church, but six local residents formed St Monans Auld Kirk Enterprise (SMAKE) in a bid to maintain the church lively in community life.

