St Mary’s Church in Nottingham has been awarded a vital £217,600 grant for roof repairs.
The church, one of Nottingham’s oldest buildings, has been given the money by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Combined with several other donations, it will pay for the nave roof to be re-covered.
The work will see a massive cocoon of scaffolding erected over the roof over the next few months.
Paul Sibly, project co-ordinator and church warden, said: “Together with the generous donations we have received, the church’s nave roof will benefit from much needed repairs. The roof has been leaking and so it is important that this work is carried out.”
But the Lace Market church is still hoping to raise another £135,000 for other urgent restoration work.
Picture: Work to cover the roof in scaffolding is already underway
The building is on Historic England’s ‘Heritage at Risk’ register and more than £100,000 of re-roofing work is still needed on the tower while stonework and access turret repairs also need to be done.
St Mary’s is the oldest parish in Nottingham. It is mentioned in the Domesday Book and is believed to go back to Saxon times.
The main body of the present building dates from the end of the reign of Edward III in 1377 to that of Henry VII from 1485-1509.
Video: Dr Paul Sibly explains how the money will be spent
