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£100K AWARD FOR “SHINING EXAMPLE” OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE
An appeal to save Bristol’s oldest building has been awarded a £100,000 grant from the National Churches Trust after being hailed “a shining example of nationally important heritage work”.
The sum given to St James Priory Heritage Appeal represents the largest sum granted by the National Churches Trust last year.
It will go towards funding the dramatic restoration of the 12th Century building, which is located in Bristol’s city centre.
The appeal aims to raise £2 million to go alongside a £3.2 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the £100,000 grant brings them more than half-way towards this £2 million mark.
The National Churches Trust was launched in 2007 as the only national non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting and promoting places of worship used by Christian congregations throughout the UK.
This major £100,000 grant demonstrates the Trust’s commitment to vital conservation work and its encouragement of projects that benefit communities, integrate places of worship fully into their local areas and enable buildings to be open to the wider public.
Development plans to open St James Priory to the community include:
- The creation of a new café and outside piazza area providing refreshment and hospitality for visitors to the city and the local business community
- The conversion of the North Aisle to provide facilities for business, schools, organisations and individuals to utilise
- Improvements to the internal layout of the building to provide more flexible space
Alison Pollard, Grants Manager from National Churches Trust said:
“St James Priory is not only important to the city of Bristol, but is a shining example of nationally important church heritage work going hand in hand with a community project of the utmost quality and value.
“The National Churches Trust promotes the use of these buildings by congregations and the wider community and advocates the conservation of places of worship of historic value for the use and enjoyment of future generations. We hope that this grant will enable this church to continue for the next 900 years.”
Brian Hanson, Trustee and Chair of the Appeal, said:
“We are absolutely delighted at the level of commitment from the National Churches Trust and grateful for their interest and support in the St James Heritage Appeal. Not only has the award taken us to the halfway point in our efforts but it has also brought with it a wealth of inspiration and renewed enthusiasm to everyone involved.
“We are looking forward to the next stage of the Appeal and raising another £1million.”
The National Churches Trust is building a range of practical support services that it believes will address national, regional and local needs, but receives no funding from government of church authorities.
To read about the Trust’s work during 2007-08, please click here to view our latest publication.
Please click here to view a complete list of all the grants we awarded during 2007, a directory of our Professional Alliance members and contact details for each of the County Churches Trusts.
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