One of the key – but often hidden – ways we help churches is by giving them grants to support preparations for major works, enabling them to develop their project to the point at which they can approach a major grant funder. We want to share with you the story of two churches – so you can celebrate with us their incredible success.
From heritage at risk to vibrant community space
St Cuthbert's Church has sat in the heart of Darlington, in County Durham, for over 800 years. But by the Victorian period, it had fallen into neglect – leading to a major restoration in 1862-1866 by prolific English Gothic Revival architect George Gilbert Scott.
The church more recently was added to Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register. In 2018, our Project Development Grant provided the research and inspiration for both the ‘Open Doors’ project and the ongoing repairs needed to make the church safe again.
In 2023, a large grant from the National Churches Trust helped fix the leaking roof covering, which led to the church being taken off the Heritage at Risk Register at the end of last year.
All of this has meant that St Cuthbert’s has this year been able to begin its Open Doors project, which will ensure the church remains as a place of worship in the community, as well as adapting the building so that it can become an arts and events venue and host a community café too. The interior of the church will also be restored to its medieval arrangement.
“St Cuthbert’s has ambitious plans to open every day, expanding our activities and the way we serve the town of Darlington. These grants will ensure the safety of the church and begin to make our ambitions possible,” Paul Gilmore, from St Cuthbert’s Parochial Church Council, told us when receiving the large grant from the National Churches Trust.
Fixing precious medieval stained glass
Great Malvern Priory, a Grade I Listed church, has been offering consistent worship for over 940 years. It is a major Worcestershire landmark and welcomes 40,000 visitors a year. But it is on the Historic England Heritage at Risk Register due to the deteriorating condition of its medieval stained glass and high-level masonry.
Urgent works are required to conserve and protect eight of 14 at-risk medieval stained-glass windows, which many regard as the finest collection of English 15th and early 16th century stained glass outside York Minster.
The major repairs that are needed are estimated to cost around £12 million. Without them, the building’s fabric and unique stained glass remain at risk of being lost forever.
A Project Development Grant from the National Churches Trust enabled the Priory to work up its major capital project ‘Light & Space’ so it could approach a major funder. We are delighted to share the news with you that The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded a significant grant to Great Malvern Priory to employ staff and undertake vital surveys over the next two years, before they get the Delivery Phase Grant of over £8.4 million.
Major projects like this take a huge amount of time and energy particularly from volunteers, but also from any staff and the wider congregation too. We are grateful to everyone who cares for church buildings and keeps them open and in use and able to be enjoyed by all. Thank you.
A version of this article first appeared in our 2026 Spring magazine.
