Did you know that once a church is closed, it is often lost forever? We want to tell you about a church that you helped bring back to life.
Grade I Listed St Nicolas of Myra is tucked away in the south of England, in the village of Worth Matravers. It is one of the oldest churches in Dorset. 1000 years of stories and history. But all of that was almost destroyed.
Nearly all of the stone roof tiles needed to be replaced, along with the rotten battens and rusted nails holding it up.
“It was a complete rebuild... we could see the costs mounting,” James Mercer, who led the Roof Project Team at St Nicholas, told us.
The church – putting the safety of the community and congregation first – made the painful decision to temporarily close. The bells went silent.
It is always the congregation that shoulders the burden of urgent repairs at UK churches. And for a congregation of around just 18 people, the pressure was on.
This is where a grant from the National Churches Trust was able to help.
“We are very grateful to receive this grant as it helps us to safeguard the structural integrity of this ancient church. The church is at the heart of the small Worth Matravers community,” James said. “What was a seeming nightmare has turned into a blessing in the long run, in many ways... I think the future for Worth is bright.”
St Nicholas has reopened and is now working with local schools to offer pupils a chance to learn about local history through new resources and tours of the building. Visitor numbers are up, and the bells are ringing out again.
It is thanks to people like you that we can help turn things around for churches. Last year, as a Friend of the National Churches Trust, you helped us support 253 churches with a grant. But more churches urgently need our help.
It is thanks to people like you that we can help turn things around for churches. Can you do the same for another church in need?
Please donate now to bring hope to churches, like St Nicholas of Myra, who thought all hope was lost
Why churches need your help
Churches across the UK are in need of your help. This year, for the first time in decades, churches will be forced to pay tax on urgent repairs, making fundraising so much harder and more demoralising for volunteers. Repairs have suddenly become 20% more expensive.
Large repair projects – like new roofs and crumbling towers – are going to take longer to complete. If churches cannot find the funds, the buildings will fall into disrepair.
One in 20 churches told us in our National Churches Survey that they don’t know if they will be here in five years' time. And that was before the new crippling tax.
The time to act is now. We cannot let churches crumble into ruins on our watch. Together, we can make a difference.
A gift today will support churches, like St Nicholas, who thought all hope was lost. It will help fund not only urgent repairs but provide volunteers with wrap around support so that they can keep the doors open.
We have not given up on churches – please take a stand with us today as we do all we can to save our precious heritage and speak up on why churches are so important.
