St Peter’s Church in Congleton is set to benefit from a £45,000 grant towards protecting some of the finest Georgian interiors in existence from a £835,000 fund that helps to save important heritage sites.
Now in its fourth year, the grant, awarded by not-for-profit company WREN, is part of a national Heritage Fund that helps to protect Grade one and two star listed buildings and structures of historical importance across theUK.
WREN’s grant will fund a new roof for the grade I church, replacing failing concrete tiles that were fitted in the 1950s. The urgent repairs will help protect the largest collection of original Georgian furnishings seen in all of the region’s churches with robust weatherproofing.
The roof replacement is the first of three phases of the project and is to be carried out in autumn. The phases have been planned in a vision to sensitively redevelop St Peter’s church into a more flexible place for community use.
Pauline Drew, project assistant from St Peter’s, said: “WREN’s funding has enabled us to begin a very significant project for the community of Congleton. It’s important for us to preserve the church’s precious interiors with a new roof, but also consider the historic features as we redevelop St Peter’s as a place of value to the community.
We already hold concerts and work with the Family History society and the Mother and Toddlers group. But with the developments that are going to take place, we really want to extend the use of the building. With WREN’s funding we can get started on this fantastic project.”
St Peter’s is one of 19 projects awarded a grant from WREN’s Heritage Fund scheme this year.
