North East Herts MP Oliver Heald has welcomed news that St Mary the Virgin Church in Westmill has received a First Round Pass of £99,000 including a Development Grant of £9,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
This Grade II* Church is of Saxon origins. It has a long history of subsequent additions and alterations including an impressive 15th century tower. This grant will enable urgent repairs and re-tiling of the nave roof and north aisle roof, which will prevent further water ingress and deterioration.
This is part of the more than £2.8million of Lottery funding to support urgent repairs to twenty eight of the East of England's most important Grade I and II* listed churches and chapels. The money comes from the Repair Grants for Places of Worship scheme, which is funded by HLF and administered by English Heritage.
Commenting, Oliver Heald said, “It is marvellous news that St Mary the Virgin Church in Westmill has been successful in their bid for this funding. Historic places of worship are an irreplaceable part of our heritage that continues to play a vital role within local communities today. In the last ten years, the Heritage Lottery Fund has invested £155million into these wonderful buildings and I am delighted we are able to continue supporting congregations across the East of England to safeguard them for future generations.”