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The Church of St Peter in Walpole St Peter, Norfolk, has been awarded a major grant for repairs from the National Churches Trust.

The National Churches Trust – the only independent charity dedicated to supporting church buildings across the UK – has awarded a grant of £20,000 towards vital repairs to the roof of St Peter’s.

A grade 1 listed building, St Peter’s is widely regarded as one of the finest parish churches in England. Due to its size and renown, it is popularly known as the ‘Cathedral of the Fens’ and the ‘Queen of the Marshlands’. The church’s fundraising appeal has received the personal backing of The Prince of Wales, who has regularly visited the building and contributed to its repair. His support continues a royal tradition, with the church having previously received personal support from King Edward VII, Queen Mary, King George VI and the Queen Mother.

Michael Anstey, Churchwarden and Project Manager said:

“The grant will help to ensure that the beautiful church of St Peter and St Paul at Walpole St Peter will remain open for generations to come and the assistance of the National Churches Trust is much appreciated.”

Commenting, the Chief Executive of the National Churches Trust, Claire Walker said:

“I am delighted that the National Churches Trust has been able to support these vital repairs to one of England’s most important parish churches. Walpole St Peter is a shining example of the best of our nation’s heritage and we have been able to recognise that through the award of one our larger grants. However, there are many other deserving churches that the Trust has unfortunately had to turn away due to the limited funds available - so I would encourage anyone who cares about the future of these historic buildings to get in touch with the Trust to find out how our work can be supported.”

ENDS

Editor’s Notes

1.      The National Churches Trust is the only independent national charity dedicated to supporting and promoting church buildings of historic, architectural and community value throughout the UK. One of the ways in which it does this is through the award of grants for repairs and for the installation of community facilities. More information about the Trust can be found at www.nationalchurchestrust.org.

2.      Claire Walker, the Chief Executive of the National Churches Trust, can be contacted on 020 7600 6090.

3.      The Church of St Peter is a parish church in Walpole St Peter, Norfolk, between King’s Lynn and Wisbech. With parts of the building dating from the 14^th century, it was grade 1 listed in 1951. For more information on the Church of St Peter, Walpole St Peter see the church website at www.stpeterschurchwalpole.org.uk.

Now available to buy online and in bookshops, a new guide has been published by the Automobile Association in partnership with the National Churches Trust to help people discover some of Britain's finest churches and chapels. ‘Exploring Britain’s Churches & Chapels’ includes over 870 of the most inspiring of these buildings to be found in England, Scotland and Wales. Drawing on local expertise to compile the entries, the guide provides day tours to some of the most remarkable and memorable churches and chapels.

Features of the Guide include:

• Regional sections with detailed entries;
• Suggested day tours with maps and navigational tips;
  
• A brief history of church architecture with detailed articles throughout;
  
• Information about why to visit, nearby attractions and key historical information;
  
• Colour photographs throughout.

For more details visit the dedicated page on our website here.

Each year the Heritage Environment Forum produces 'Heritage Counts', which explores the role of the historic environment in wider social and economic agendas. This year’s report  looks at links with the Big Society, introducing new research into the role of heritage in civil society and highlighting plans for increasing on-going engagement in local heritage issues.

The report contains a comprehensive update on developments across the heritage sector over the year, and on page 22 highlights the results of the National Churches Trust survey, pointing to its findings on the use and condition of church buildings.

To download the full report go to the dedicated Heritage Counts website.

We’ve made it easier for you to help us continue protecting church buildings for communities today and for future generations. You can now donate to us through text messaging, via JustTextGiving, and Twitter! Donations of all sizes are really important to churches and their communities. Follow the simple instructions below and make a real difference to our work.

By text message:

To donate now, just send the message ‘NTCT11’ with the amount you would like to donate eg NTCT11 £20. Then send to 70070 – free from all networks.

Why use JustTextGiving?
• 100% of every text donation comes to us
• All text messages are free on all networks
• It’s quick and easy to donate, helping us raise more money to continue our important work

Through Twitter:

Tweet the following #giv2 @NatChurchTrust followed by the amount you would like to give. Your tweet should look something like this:

#giv2 @NatChurchTrust £5

Once you’ve sent your tweet you will receive a personalised link to complete your donation.
The minimum donation of £2 is processed by JustGiving, so your donation is completely secure and Gift Aid will be claimed. Gift Aid allows the National Churches Trust to reclaim the tax on your donation, increasing it by 25%.

If you would like to continue supporting us by joining the National Churches Trust Friends please click here – you will be joining a growing group of supporters that are passionate about protecting and sustaining church buildings for communities today and for future generations.