St Laurence Church in Alvechurch has received a £189,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The funding will provide 2/3 of the cost of the work necessary to protect and conserve the church’s rich heritage, with a focus on completing essential works to restore the church tower and clock face, securing their preservation for future generations.
The grant will enable the restoration of these key historical features, ensuring the iconic tower and clock face continue to be prominent landmarks within the community. The project will also aim to invite wider interaction, allowing both locals and visitors to engage more deeply with the church’s architectural and cultural heritage.
The funding, made possible thanks to National Lottery players, will also help create a sustainable future for the church, promoting wider appreciation of its historical significance while ensuring it remains a vital community hub for years to come. The anouncement of the funding was made at a recent Heritage Open Day event at the church.
Gail Rogers, Vicar of St Laurence Church said:
“We are thrilled to have received this support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players we can restore and preserve our historic church tower and clock face, through which we aim to increase community engagement, and ensure the long-term viability of St Laurence Church as both a cultural landmark, a place of worship and a community hub."
St Laurence Church is a Grade II* listed building, with the Tower forming the oldest part of the structure as it stands today. Without this vital support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the tower would continue to decay and become unusable. This would mean the loss of the rhythm of time marked by the clock chimes, and the bells would fall silent due to the building becoming unsafe for use. Without intervention, this treasured heritage, and rhythm could be lost forever.
The restoration project will focus on preserving the historic tower and clock face, which are vital components of the Grade II* listed building. By halting the current decay, this project will safeguard the architectural integrity of the church and ensure that its historic significance remains intact for future generations. The church’s heritage as a central landmark in the community, with its tower dating back centuries, will be restored and protected, keeping the cultural legacy alive.
The restoration will also create opportunities for the local community to engage with their heritage through workshops, guided tours, and educational programs. By enhancing awareness and participation, the project will ensure that a broader audience can appreciate the church’s cultural and historical importance.
