A NORTH Yorkshire church is ready to launch the next phase of a major conservation project thanks to a £1.5m grant.
The Church of All Saints, Helmsley, has secured funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for its ambitious All Saints For All People project.
The All Saints For All People project team (Image: Freelancer)
After more than two years of planning, consultation and dedicated work by volunteers, specialists and members of the congregation, the award will support a major programme of conservation, learning, skills development and community engagement centred on one of Helmsley’s most important historic buildings.
The project will conserve and reveal the church's remarkable Edwardian wall paintings, undertake essential repairs, improve access, develop new heritage interpretation, create volunteering opportunities, support learning programmes and ensure that this important heritage asset continues to serve the community for generations to come.
For centuries, All Saints has stood at the heart of Helmsley as a place of worship, welcome, celebration, remembrance and community life.
The All Saints for All People project will help ensure that one of this town’s most historic buildings continues to inspire, serve and bring people together long into the future.
All Saints, Helmsley (Image: Freelancer)
The National Lottery Heritage Fund's investment marks the beginning of an exciting new phase in the project's development.
While the grant provides the foundation for the work ahead, further partnership funding of £315,000 must now be secured before work can begin.
Reverend Melanie Burnside, Vicar of the Benefice of Helmsley and Upper Ryedale, said:"This is wonderful news for All Saints, for Helmsley and for everyone who values the heritage and community life of our town.
"This project is about far more than caring for a historic building.
"It is about ensuring that All Saints remains a place of worship, welcome, learning and community for generations to come.
(Image: Freelancer)
"We are deeply grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for the confidence they have shown in our vision, and to National Lottery players whose support has made this award possible."
Richard Hiscocks, Programme Lead for the project, said: 2"This award is the result of more than two years of hard work by a dedicated team of volunteers, specialists and members of the congregation who have helped shape and develop the vision.
"It is a tremendous milestone and a powerful endorsement of what has been achieved together.
We still have work to do.
Like all projects supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, we are required to secure partnership funding, and we must now raise a further £315,000.
"We look forward to working with the church, local organisations, grant-making bodies and the wider community to bring this exciting vision fully to life."
Val Moorby, a long-standing member of the congregation since 1991, said: "I've worshipped at All Saints for many years and am delighted that future generations will be able to enjoy and learn from this remarkable building.
My granddaughter was married in this beautiful church that has been at the heart of Helmsley for centuries, and it's wonderful to know that it will continue to serve our community for many years to come."
The project team believes the award represents both a celebration and an invitation: a celebration of what has already been achieved and an invitation for the people of Helmsley and beyond to help complete a once-in-a-generation project.
Helen Featherstone, Director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: "Places of worship are some of the most treasured historic buildings across the UK and play an important role as a cornerstone for our heritage and communities.
Thanks to National Lottery players we are thrilled to be supporting this fantastic project that will take vital actions towards ensuring a robust and more sustainable future for All Saints Church while forging new or stronger connections with its communities."