A much-loved Suffolk church is to share in a £507,000 funding payout from the National Churches Trust.
A £15,000 National Churches Trust Cornerstone Grant will help fund repairs to roof, at the Grade II* listed St Mary church, Dallinghoo, making the church watertight and preserving its historic fabric.
Broadcaster and journalist Huw Edwards, Vice President of The National Churches Trust, said: “The UK's historic churches and chapels are a vital part of our national heritage and have done so much to support local people during the COVID-19 lockdown. But to survive, many need to carry out urgent repairs and install modern facilities. The cost of this work is far beyond what most congregations can pay for themselves.”
“So, I’m delighted that St Mary’s church in Dallinghoo is being helped with a £15,000 National Churches Trust Cornerstone Grant. The repairs to the roof will help secure the future of this much loved historic building.”
A total of 59 grants have been awarded to benefit churches and chapels in England, Wales and Northern Ireland by the National Churches Trust, the charity that supports the UK’s church buildings.
These are the second-round of grants made by the National Churches Trust in 2020. To date this year, the Trust has distributed 145 grants totaling over £1 million to churches and chapels around the UK.
The church
St Mary’s church in Dallinghoo is a well-maintained 14th century church with, unusually, the tower at the east end of the church. Originally it was a central tower but the Chancel connected to it collapsed. Herringbone masonry shows that it is structurally Early Norman. The west and east arches date from 1300 or a little earlier.
The church has an interesting Jacobean pulpit described as “exceptionally splendid,” by one church architect. The back includes an earlier panel with the arms of Catherine of Aragon. Its wide nave is spanned by a shallow arch-braced roof and the base of the tower serves as the chancel. The 18th century communion rails have twisted balusters and fluted gate-posts.
A large 19th century window may have been inserted in the eastern arch when the collapsed east chancel was removed. A highly coloured window glass is by Albert Moore.
The project
The work being funded includes extensive repairs to gutters, masonry, brickwork, and windows. The main internal works include refurbishing the rather dangerous tower stair treads, timber window repairs, ceiling repairs and pew platform repairs.
Charlotte Sullivan, church warden at St Mary’s said:
“Key members of our community have been fund raising for years to keep our church fabric sound. With this fantastic National Churches Trust grant we can now go ahead and get the much-needed repairs completed.”
The church
St Mary church, Dallinghoo
Church of England - Diocese of St Edmundsbury & Ipswich
Grade II*
About the National Churches Trust
The National Churches Trust is the leading national independent charity concerned with the protection and welfare of churches, chapels and meeting houses throughout the United Kingdom. We aim to:
a) Provide grants for the repair, maintenance and modernisation of church buildings
b) Act as a catalyst to improve and bring more resources to the management of church buildings
c) Promote the value of church buildings to the community at large
For more information visit www.nationalchurchestrust.org
PRESS CONTACT
Eddie Tulasiewicz 07742 932278 020 7227 1936 eddie@nationalchurchestrust.org
Linda Patrick 07715 524008 linda.patrick@nationalchurchestrust.org