Peterborough city centre church given lifeline cash boost

St John's Church in Peterborough city centre has been given a vital cash boost as part of the Government’s £1.57bn Culture Recovery Fund.
St John's ChurchSt John's Church
St John's Church

The church has received £12,140 to repair external walls, stonework and windows and overhaul rainwater disposal.

Canon Ian Black, Vicar of St John’s, said: “We are delighted to have received this grant. It will enable works which are important but not the kind of thing that attracts donations, to keep the church in good repair. St John’s is a beacon of faith, hope and love in the heart of our city, it has served the people of this city for over 600 years and these funds will help secure it being here for future generations too.“

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The church has had a number of issues with the 600-year-old building in recent years.

In November last year a large piece of stone fell through the roof at the church causing thousands of pounds of damage.

MORE: Tower at historic Peterborough church crashes through roofMORE: New gargoyles at Peterborough church after old one fell through roofSt John’s Church is one of 445 heritage organisations across the country set to receive a lifesaving financial boost from the government thanks to the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to help them through the coronavirus pandemic.

A total of 445 organisations will share £103 million, including St John’s Church, to help restart vital reconstruction work and maintenance on cherished heritage sites, keeping venues open and supporting those working in the sector.

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Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “As a nation it is essential that we preserve our heritage and celebrate and learn from our past. This massive support package will protect our shared heritage for future generations, save jobs and help us prepare for a cultural bounceback post covid.”

Duncan Wilson, Historic England’s Chief Executive said: "It is heartening to see grants, both large and small, from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund helping heritage sites and organisations across the country which have been hit hard by the effects of Covid-19. These grants range from giving skilled craft workers the chance to keep their trades alive to helping heritage organisations pay the bills, and to kick-starting repair works at our best-loved historic sites. The funding is an essential lifeline for our heritage and the people who work tirelessly to conserve it for us all, so that we can hand it on to future generations.”

Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive of the National Lottery Heritage Fund said: “It is absolutely right that investing in heritage should be a priority during this crisis and this support by Government is crucial. Heritage creates jobs and economic prosperity, is a major driver for tourism and makes our towns, cities, and rural areas better places to live. All of this is so important for our wellbeing and will be particularly vital when we start to emerge from this incredibly difficult time.

“Our heritage is still facing a perilous future – we are not out of the woods yet. But this hugely welcome funding from Government, and the money we continue to invest from the National Lottery, has undoubtedly stopped heritage and the organisations that care for it being permanently lost.”

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Kate Mavor, Chief Executive of English Heritage, said: “This support for our nation’s heritage is fantastic news. Over the last few months, our teams have been working hard to welcome visitors back safely to the great castles, stone circles, abbeys and historic houses in our care. This funding will help us invest to safeguard the historic fabric of these much-loved places, which everyone can learn from and enjoy.”