St James Church in Welland has been awarded a £140,533 grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund towards their project “Future-Proofing our Heritage”.The funding will enable the church to refurbish and repair the organ, their 1897 jubilee clock and for a new infrared heating system to be installed along with other urgent building repairs.
The Vowles pipe organ is the most historically important feature of the church and is now the element most at risk. Believed to be one of Vowles’ earliest works, it remains almost untouched since installation in 1875. Its survival makes it a rare example of his early craftsmanship. The grant will enable the organ to be completely refurbished and brought back up to a standard that will allow for it to be used for regular services, demonstrated by organ recitals and for teaching new organists as the opportunity arises.
The 1897 Jubilee clock is cast-iron skeleton clock which remains a familiar community landmark. It has been inspected by Cumbria Clock Company and continues to be manually wound and oiled, but the mechanism is dirty and worn. Weekly winding requires access using a steep ladder and presents a health and safety risk; Without intervention, the clock risks failing altogether. The Cumbria Clock Company last did work on the clock in 2017. The grant will enable an automatic winding gear and regulator to be fitted so that the clock remains a reliable local landmark.
The oil-fired boiler and gas heaters are serviced annually, but both systems are now failing with age. The grant will enable a completely new infrared heating system to be installed which will transform the church into a warm and welcoming environment. This also requires a significant upgrade to the electrical supply to the church which is included in the project. The overall effect to this work will be to reduce the carbon footprint of the church to almost zero, well ahead of the 2030 target set out by the Diocese of Worcester and the Church of England.
The final element is urgent building repairs highlighted in the 2024 quinquennial inspection. These include repointing stonework to the clerestory, gable ends and east end of the north aisle; replacing mortar fillets in abutments; and refixing roof tiles as required. Eaves woodwork will be checked and repaired. Rainwater goods will be replaced on the south side with deep flow guttering and repaired on the north side, with additional upstand flashing and lead trays to mitigate heavier rainfall linked to climate change. These works will prevent further water ingress and fabric deterioration.
Alongside these capital works, the community of St James Church plans to develop new ways of engaging the community with the church’s heritage. Audio guides will be created, drawing on research by the Welland History Group, to help visitors and schoolchildren learn about the church’s architecture, monuments, and unique artefacts such as the 17th-century travelling font and memorials from the earlier St James Church.
John Martin, Churchwarden at St James Church said:
“We are thrilled to have received this support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, St James Church will continue to be a place of community and hope for another 150 years and beyond. Through these works and activities, we will restore and protect key heritage assets, improve resilience against environmental change, and ensure the church continues to serve as a warm, welcoming hub for worship, education, music and community life."
Work on the clock has already started. These two photographs show the condition before and after it had been stripped and cleaned.
