Two congregations are celebrating after their churches were awarded thousands of pounds from Lottery funds to carry out vital repairs.
St Andrew’s Church at Northwold has been granted £160,000 and St Nicholas’ Church at Gayton will receive a total of £105,000. Both are Grade I listed buildings.
Northwold church warden Carol Sharp said: “It’s a wonderful, wonderful grant and we are incredibly pleased and grateful.”
The parish church dates back to the 13th century and contains a number of rarities including a carved chalk Easter sepulchre and a Medieval wall painting.
Mrs Sharp said: “I feel it’s probably some of our special features which helped towards us being granted the money. They are priceless.”
The funding, from the Heritage Lottery Fund, is needed to re-roof parts of the church and improve rainwater drainage.
Mrs Sharp paid tribute to the church treasurer, Tim Elliott, for the hard work he put into applying for the grant.
At Gayton’s church, work to be carried out includes re-leading and re-slating part of the roof, repairing a buttress, overhauling rainwater drainage and improving surface water drainage.
The church tower is topped by a unique dome and church warden Stan Watkinson said its importance was recognised by the HLF.
The grant announcement refers to the “distinctive and unusual domed roof which creates a very recognisable landmark.”
Further fundraising and grant applications are now planned to enable all the work needed to be carried out .
Mr Watkinson said: “This Lottery funding gets us off to a great start.”
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