The Parish of the Upper Wreake has been awarded a £39,999 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to repair and sustain St Peter’s Church in Kirby Bellars.
The much-loved village church has suffered serious damage following the theft of copper from its roof and this funding will support the development of plans for vital repairs and help to secure a sustainable future for the historic building.
St Peter’s is a 13th Century Grade I listed parish church built alongside the former Augustinian priory, forming a unique example of a rural Leicestershire church building.
This project will use surveys to give the parish a clear picture of the church’s declining condition, enabling accurate repair plans, realistic costings, and strong conservation bids to help revive and protect this important piece of Leicestershire’s heritage.
Local volunteers are, in partnership with Heritage Lincolnshire, working hand-in-hand with the community to highlight the vital role St Peter’s plays in Kirby Bellars, opening the door for more people to enjoy the church and its rich environment, while strengthening its long-term accessibility, sustainability and future viability through effective use.
Church Architect, Peter Rogan, described St Peter’s Church as: “Archaeologically speaking, one of the most fascinating churches I look after.”
Commenting on the project, Hannah Mayhew, Community Heritage Solutions Project Manager from Heritage Lincolnshire, said: “Heritage Lincolnshire is excited to be supporting St Peter’s Church, Kirby Bellars, with its Heritage Fund project. This is a positive step towards securing the future of this unique church and ensuring that its rich heritage can be preserved for future generations.”
The Revd David Harknett, Priest-in-Charge of the Parish of the Upper Wreake, said: “A fine, community asset... a beautiful holy space. We are one step closer to marrying those twin visions thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund.”
The community volunteer group, the Roof Resurrectors, formed to raise money to replace the roof and “save” the church, wish to express their thanks to National Lottery players for enabling them to move forward with their project.
They will be running engagement events throughout the project. Find more information here.