Event in Parliament celebrates historic Catholic church repair grants

Archbishop Stack with Duncan Wilson OBE. Image: MMazur/CBCEW

Source: CBCEW

The Patrimony Committee of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales and Deputy Speaker Nigel Evans, MP hosted an event on 19 April to celebrate the completion, between 2020 and 2022, of 39 projects of repair to Grade I and Grade II* historic Catholic churches throughout England.

These projects were grant-funded by the Bishops' Conference thanks to a £6.6m allocation from Historic England's 'Heritage Stimulus Fund' - part of the government's Culture Recovery Fund.

The event was attended by the Heritage Minister, Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay, and the Chief Executive of Historic England, Duncan Wilson OBE, both of whom spoke warmly about the success of the grants programme, congratulating all those involved.

A new booklet from the Patrimony Committee, entitled 'Living Stones: A Celebration of Achievement', was distributed to attendees.

The publication illustrates all 39 buildings supported with grants and makes the case for the need for a dedicated grants scheme for the repair of historic churches going forward - a point reiterated by the Most Reverend George Stack, Archbishop Emeritus of Cardiff and Chair of the Patrimony Committee.

Archbishop Stack said: "The heritage of Catholic churches in this country is not as well-known as it deserves to be, yet it is a wonderfully rich and varied heritage as the range of projects illustrated in this booklet demonstrate."

He added: "Particular thanks go to the Government and to Historic England for making this funding available as part of the Culture Recovery Fund in response to the Covid-19 pandemic."

Following the Archbishop, the Chief Executive of Historic England, Duncan Wilson said: "The Heritage Stimulus Fund gave a great boost to volunteer morale, and provided very welcome local employment, and these churches are now much better able to deliver the social, pastoral, and practical support that people needed during the pandemic and continue to today in facing new challenges.

"The fact that the Catholic Church was ready and able to respond to the emergency funding offer is a tribute to over a decade of partnership with Historic England and the Catholic dioceses."

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay, Minister for Arts and Heritage, also spoke saying: "It's a real pleasure to hear about the different projects being supported through government funding, brilliantly delivered through our arm's length bodies, including Historic England, to help communities across the country in those challenging times."

He added: "As Minister for Heritage I have the privilege of working with listed places of worship of all religions and all denominations, and making sure that all of them which make up the rich fabric of this nation and our shared heritage are being looked after and shared for future generations. Catholic churches are a hugely important part of that heritage."

The event was attended by more than 50 people including a number of Parliamentarians and others involved in the field of historic churches and their conservation.

Grants for Programmes of Major Works - Projects by Diocese/Order

Diocese of Lancaster
St Peter's Cathedral, Lancaster

Archdiocese of Liverpool
St Patrick's, Toxteth
St Philip Neri, Liverpool

Diocese of Salford
Cathedral of St John the Evangelist, Salford
St John the Baptist, Rochdale

Hexham and Newcastle
St Michael, Elswick, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
St Mary, Hexham
Cathedral of St Mary Newcastle-upon-Tyne
St Paul, Alnwick

Diocese of Leeds
St Wilfrid, Ripon
Cathedral of St Anne, Leeds
St Joseph, Pontefract
St Cuthbert, Bradford

Diocese of Shrewsbury
St Alban's Macclesfield
Cathedral of Our Lady Help of Christians and St Peter of Alcantara, Shrewsbury

Archdiocese of Birmingham
Cathedral of St Chad, Birmingham
Harvington Hall, Kidderminster, Worcestershire

Diocese of Nottingham
Cathedral of St Barnabas, Nottingham

Diocese of East Anglia
Cathedral of St John, Norwich
St Mary, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
St Peter, Gorleston, Norfolk

Archdiocese of Westminster
Cathedral of the Most Precious Blood, Westminster

Archdiocese of Southwark
Shrine of St Augustine, Ramsgate, Kent

Diocese of Clifton
St Mary, Cricklade, Wiltshire
The Annunciation, Woodchester, Stroud, Gloucestershire

Diocese of Portsmouth
The Annunciation, Bournemouth
St Thomas of Canterbury, Newport, Isle of Wight

Diocese of Plymouth
Our Lady Help of Christians and St Denis, St Marychurch, Torquay, Devon
Our Lady and St Mary Magdalene, Tavistock, Devon
St Cuthbert Mayne, Launceston, Cornwall
St Michael and St George, Lyme Regis, Dorset

Norfolk Churches Trust
Our Lady of Consolation and St Stephen, Lynford, Thetford, Norfolk

Benedictine (Solesmes)
Abbey of Our Lady, Quarr, Isle of Wight

Carmelite Order
Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St Simon Stock, Aylesford, Kent

Order of Friars Minor Conventional
All Saints Friary, Barton-upon-Irwell, Greater Manchester

English Benedictine Congregation
Abbey Church of St Laurence, Ampleforth, York

Syro-Malabar Eparchy
Cathedral of St Alphonsa, Preston

Institute of Christ the King and Sovereign Priest
St Walburge, Preston

Society of Jesus
The Holy Name, Manchester