StJohns Church in Brockmoor has received a grant for 176,100 from the HeritageLottery Fund (HLF) to carry out vital repairs and improvements to the building.
Thanksto the National Lottery, work can go ahead to repair the roof, brickwork andstonework, to upgrade facilities including the kitchen, improve access to thebuilding and attract more visitors to the Grade II listed church.
Therepair and conservation project will enable high-level repairs andwaterproofing needed to the roof and brickwork, particularly to the east end,which have led to the church being on the English Heritage Places of WorshipHeritage at Risk register.
StJohns is a focal point for the local community and is used by communitygroups, including the Little Badgers toddler group, Messy Church and youthclub, as well as hosting choir concerts and parties. It hosts a weekly Place ofWelcome every Saturday morning for anyone in need of a warm drink and someoneto talk to.
Commentingon the award, vicar at St Johns the Revd Simon Archer, said: Everyone here isdelighted with the wonderful news that the Heritage Lottery Fund is supportingthis essential work. Thanks to National Lottery players we can now restore theparts of the building that have caused problems with damp. We will be able topreserve this building for future generations and enable more people to learnmore about its history in the community and its distinctive architecture.
VanessaHarbar, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund West Midlands said: We have beendelighted to support St Johns in Brockmoor to carry out urgent repairs andengage new audiences with this much-loved local landmark. Thank you to theNational Lottery players who have made it possible.
About St John's Church
StJohns is a Grade II listed building, regarded by Historic England as a verygood example of a neo-Norman Commissioners Church, dating from the late 1800s.The building is on the English Heritage Places of Worship Heritage at Riskregister. Built in 1844-45 by Thomas Smith, it is constructed in dark brick,with yellow dressing and has unusual and interesting details includingsandstone carved faces.
StJohns is one of four churches in the Brierley Hill Team. As well as regularSunday and midweek worship, funerals, baptisms and weddings, the church is usedfor regular Bible studies, monthly Messy Church, weekly Ignite youth club,weekly Little Badgers toddler group, the Place of Welcome open-church morningevery Saturday, occasional concerts, parties, fundraising fairs.
Thebuilding offers scope for even greater future community use in an area ofeconomic need, which cannot be enabled until the building is dry and warm.
Aboutthe Heritage Lottery Fund
Thanks to National Lottery players, we invest money to help people across theUK explore, enjoy and protect the heritage they care about - from thearchaeology under our feet to the historic parks and buildings we love, fromprecious memories and collections to rare wildlife. www.hlf.org.uk. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #HLFsupported.
