Newport Minster is to receive £10,000 from the National Churches Trust to help fund urgent and essential repairs to the stunning Grade I Listed church.
The church, located in the heart of Newport in St Thomas’ Square, is 1 of 29 churches and chapels in the UK to benefit from the latest grants from the National Churches Trust, the UK church repair and support charity.
The grant of £10,000 will enable the fifth phase of a major 8 phase restoration programme agreed with Historic England in 2006 to be completed. It involves the repair of the deteriorating Caen stonework, re-slating and roofs on the east and south east corner of the church, and urgent repair of the decaying stone mullions around the east window. Internally, a new welcome area will be created inside the west door, with heritage interpretation boards.
The Minster Church of Sts Thomas, or Newport Minster, is recognised as the main Anglican church on the Isle of Wight. Honouring its importance, the church was designated a Minster in 2008. Originally dedicated to Thomas Beckett, this was dropped when he was declared a traitor, and the dedication assumed to be to Thomas the Apostle. The current church is dedicated to both Saints Thomas.
Newport Minster was rebuilt in 1854 in the Victorian High Gothic style on the footprint of the original mediaeval church. Queen Victoria’s beloved home on the Isle of Wight, Osborne House, gave her a strong connection to the church. She was a major benefactor of the project, and Prince Albert laid the foundation stone.
Queen Victoria commissioned a marble memorial by Baron Carlo Marochetti to Princess Elizabeth, daughter of King Charles I, who died after being taken to Carisbrooke Castle after her father’s execution and is buried under the high altar.
Broadcaster and Journalist Huw Edwards, Vice-President of the National Churches Trust said:
“I’m delighted that the future of Newport Minster is being safeguarded by a £10,000 National Churches Trust Repair Grant. This funding will help ensure that this historic church, which is central to its island community, can complete the next phase of its major renovation project and can continue to welcome people of all faiths and none.
Article continues below this advertisement “At the heart of the nation’s history and at the centre of local communities, churches and chapels are some of the UK’s best loved local buildings. But their future is not guaranteed”
“The financial and practical support provided by the National Churches Trust helps many of UK’s churches, chapels and meeting houses continue to flourish at the heart of their communities, by preserving their architecture and keeping their facilities up to date.
“But everyone can make a contribution to the future of the UK’s churches and chapels by volunteering to help look after the building. If you’ve got practical skills you could help clear drains and gutters, if you are a good communicator you could help show people the history and architecture of your local church or you could simply be a good neighbour and keep an eye out for vandals or thieves.
“Churches and chapels may be historic buildings, but they can be part of our future, too.”
More information about the church can be found at www.newportminster.org.
