St Mary’s Church in Withersfield, near Haverhill boosted by £10,000 National Churches Trust grant to fix damaged tower and leaky roof

A grant of £10,000 has been awarded to a village church near Haverhill to repair its damaged and leaky belltower and nave roof – ensuring it will be safe for people to access.

The Grade II Listed St Mary’s Church in Withersfield, Suffolk is to receive a £10,000 Wolfson Fabric Repair Grant from the Wolfson Foundation for urgent tower repairs.

The welcome windfall is part of a £496,625 urgent funding pay-out from the National Churches Trust, which recommended the church be given the grant.

The priest in charge at St Mary’s, Revd Max Drinkwater, said: “This grant is so very welcome and much appreciated.

“We are working hard to fundraise for our church which holds a dominant position in the village and is included on the newly resurrected pilgrimage route between London and Walsingham.

“We are already welcoming more visitors as a result of this, and to show that we as a parish are taking care of our building is important.

“At the recent Open Day we were again able to take people to the top of the tower – this grant will enable us to ensure that access is completely safe and secure, not only for now but for future generations.

“In the community, our church is very valued, its history offers many insights into life gone by and as such is a key resource for the Withersfield History Group.

“Once again, we extend our sincere thanks to the National Churches Trust and to the Wolfson Foundation for our allocation of £10,000 from the Wolfson Fabric Repair Grant.”

The National Churches Trust said that St Mary’s parapet has a hole in the north corner, which is slowly increasing in size.

The stairs in the turret are in a serious state of decay and through these cracks water is leaking into the church and causing damage to the building and the fabric.

As the cracks in the tower continue to grow, it will become dangerous and potentially unsafe to use.

Once the church roof is secure and watertight, the church will be a much more welcoming place again for the community and for visitors.

This includes its annual open day, which features art exhibitions from local artists and tower tours.

The church also has exciting plans to work with the newly-formed Withersfield History group, to help promote its history through a permanent display in the church.

Claire Walker, chief executive of the National Churches Trust, said: “The National Churches Trust is excited to be able to support St Mary’s church to enable them to carry out urgent repairs to their tower.

“Not only will this protect this important heritage, but it will help to keep the church building open and serving local people.

“Whether seeking quiet reflection, access to community services or a place to worship, the National Churches Trust helps hundreds of churches each year and with the support of local people, keeps them thriving today and tomorrow.”

Paul Ramsbottom, chief executive of the Wolfson Foundation, said: “Churches sit in the heart of their communities and provide unparalleled support to local people.

“We are delighted to continue to partner with the National Churches Trust to help conserve and restore listed places of worship of outstanding historical and architectural significance, preserving these much-loved buildings for future generations to enjoy.”