A much-loved Isle of Wight church is to share in a £611,000 funding payout from the National Churches Trust.
A £30,000 National Churches Trust Cornerstone Grant will help fund urgent repairs to The Minster Church of Ss Thomas in Newport and allow it to continue to serve the local community. The church also receives a £10,000 Wolfson Fabric Repair Grant from the Wolfson Foundation on the recommendation of the National Churches Trust.
Broadcaster and journalist Huw Edwards, Vice President of The National Churches Trust, said:
“I’m delighted that the Minster Church of Sts Thomas, Newport is being helped with a £30,000 National Churches Trust Cornerstone Grant. The grant will facilitate extensive roof and stonework repairs and the installation of four toilets, a new kitchen and new flooring.
“The grant will safeguard unique local heritage and help Sts Thomas’ continue to support local people as we begin to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Paul Ramsbottom, Chief Executive at the Wolfson Foundation, said:
“Churches play a central role in the spiritual life of a community, but they are also an integral, much loved, part of our cultural heritage. We are delighted to be working in partnership with the National Churches Trust on this important programme supporting the preservation of these remarkable and wonderful buildings.”
A total of 67 churches and chapels in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will benefit from the latest grants from the National Churches Trust, the charity supporting church buildings of all Christian denominations across the UK. £133,300 of funding for the grants has been provided by the Wolfson Foundation.
The grant will support extensive roof repairs to the south aisle and south nave, stonework repairs, installing four toilets and a kitchen, and new flooring. The roof will be repaired using Douglas Fir for timber repairs and new welsh slate.
Eroded stone will either undergo a mortar repair, shelter coat to match existing stone or replaced matching like for like using Bath and Caen stone. Internally a re-ordering of the west end is proposed to create two new spaces on the ground floor for use as a choir vestry, family area and for community use for hiring to generate an income for the building.
There will be four new toilets, one fully accessible with baby changing facilities. A kitchen will be installed with a servery to cater for larger events and concerts.
The Venerable Peter Leonard, Archdeacon of the Isle of Wight and Rector of Newport Minster said:
“This exciting project will make a dramatic difference to the Minster, to Newport, and to the Isle of Wight itself.
“The heritage aspects of the building will be much more accessible to all, and the building will function as a community resource, benefitting all but with a particular ability to serve young people and those with mental health challenges. We are very grateful to both the National Churches Trust and the Wolfson Foundation for making this possible.”
