ESSENTIAL repair works to Barnard Castle’s parish church are a step closer after cash was awarded so the congregation can develop a £320,000 masterplan.
The huge cracks running down the west wall of St Mary’s Church, in Barnard Castle, are believed to be caused by pressure exerted by the church tower that was built in Victorian times.
A previous lottery bid for a significant grant fell flat, but church goers are celebrating after development funding of £17,100 was awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. It will help progress plans to apply for a full National Lottery grant, worth a total of about £320,500. The project will include essential conservation work to the walls, tower and stained glass windows.
The church’s partners in the project, Barnard Castle-based archaeologists DigVentures, will develop plans to involve the wider community in the heritage of the church building and its place in local history.
The scheme is titled Windows to the World. The church has important links with Richard lll and the project has received financial support from The Richard lll Society. DigVentures will also be developing heritage interpretation and community engagement in other aspects of the intertwined history of the town and the church, with plenty of scope for the community to become involved through talks, workshops and volunteering in the full project.
Revd Canon Alec Harding, vicar of St Mary’s, welcomed the award of the development plan. He said: “The award of this initial grant provides us with sufficient funds to be able to develop detailed plans of the urgently needed church restoration works for a further application to Heritage Lottery Fund.
“When we are able to complete the works, the church will be weather tight for future generations.”
The church is contributing £7,000 of donations and reserves to the initial project.
Lisa Westcott Wilkins, from DigVentures, added: “We are really excited to have the opportunity to help St Mary’s develop this project. We’re looking forward to adding new opportunities for the church as a heritage destination in the already strong cultural mix of Barnard Castle, as well as involving the local community in many new and exciting activities.”
The grade I-listed site dates from the early 12th century.
Richard lll spent time in Barnard Castle and had improvements made to the church. There is a figurehead of him as Duke of Gloucester in the church and a carved stone boar, his mark, on an outside wall.
