THE historic Grade 1 listed St Wilfrid’s church in Grappenhall, Warrington is among more than 2,700 recipients to benefit from the latest round of awards from the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund.
The £75,000 award will help St Wilfrid’s plan and organise restarting the wide range of activities from concerts to craft groups and heritage exhibitions that are enjoyed by many thousands of people, not just in Grappenhall but from all over the UK and overseas.
St Wilfrid’s, 900 year old, Grade 1 listed Church in Warrington received the grant from the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to help the organisation recover and reopen. Nearly £400 million has been awarded to thousands of cultural organisations across the country including, St Wilfrid’s Church, in the latest round of support from the Culture Recovery Fund.
Before 2020, St Wilfrid’s had hundreds of volunteers, who made things happen. St Wilfrid’s wants to welcome back their volunteers, when they feel safe and willing to resume contacts beyond their immediate family and friends. This grant will help fund bringing in people to restart essential work, and get activities moving forward.
Over £800 million in grants and loans has already been awarded to support almost 3,800 cinemas, performance venues, museums, heritage sites and other cultural organisations dealing with the immediate challenges of the coronavirus pandemic. This brings the Government’s total investment across grants, capital and repayable finance from the Culture Recovery Fund so far to more than £1.2 billion across over 5,000 individual cultural and heritage organisations and sites.
The second round of awards will help organisations to look ahead to the spring and summer and plan for reopening and recovery. After months of closures and cancellations to contain the virus and save lives, this funding will be a much-needed helping hand for organisations transitioning back to normal in the months ahead.
Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, said: “Our record-breaking Culture Recovery Fund has already helped thousands of culture and heritage organisations across the country survive the biggest crisis they’ve ever faced.
“Now we’re staying by their side as they prepare to welcome the public back through their doors – helping our cultural gems plan for reopening and thrive in the better times ahead.”
Reverend Jane Proudfoot, Rector of St Wilfrid’s Church Grappenhall, said: “We want to welcome people back to St Wilfrid’s, so they can enjoy the many activities that bring people together, like monthly “Live at St Wilfrid’s” concerts, Grappenhall Walking Day, Christmas Fairs and social groups for all ages, from preschool to older people. We aim to offer everyone something which they can enjoy, for example exercise classes, music, craft and friendship/fellowship groups. I am particularly looking forward to welcoming school groups again. We know how much they enjoy the experience of learning about the history of their community in their own, very special place. Our Church visitor’s book records comments from people who are revisiting memories of their childhood in Grappenhall and who now live all over the world.”
“It is so important that people have confidence about remaining safe, so we must plan and organise very carefully to keep in step with advice from health professionals. Sadly, there will be no Walking Day this year, but with this very timely grant funding, we can carefully re-start activities throughout the spring and summer, and even start making plans for Christmas. It has been wonderful to see how many thousands of “hits” there have been for our regular online services – which we plan to continue. But, there is nothing that can beat the experience of meeting together in person. Our Facebook page and www.stwilfridschurch.org.uk are where you can keep up to date about what is happening.”
Andy Carter MP, for Warrington South, said: “I know that St Wilfrid’s plays a very important part in the lives of many local people, regular church goers and non churchgoers alike. I am very pleased that this grant will help restore that important cultural link with a heritage going back over 900 years. I have had a brief preview of your new annexe, which I can see will be a huge asset to the community. I look forward to having a cup of coffee in the Tower Courtyard by the Annexe to enjoy the birdsong and sense of peace in Grappenhall’s country churchyard. ”
Ros Kerslake, CEO of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Spring is definitely here, bringing not only sunshine but that sense of optimism and hope for the future. We are all looking forward to heritage places and other visitor attractions reopening and I am very pleased that we have been able to support DCMS in delivering this vital funding to ensure the UK’s heritage sector can rebuild and thrive, boosting local economies, creating jobs and supporting personal wellbeing.”
Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive of Historic England, said: “The value of our heritage sites and the people who run them has been amply demonstrated, as they have provided an anchor for so many of us through the dark days of the last year. Vital grants from the Culture Recovery Fund have helped them survive and will now help them recover, as the places we all cherish start to reopen in the months ahead.”
The funding awarded is from a £400 million pot which was held back last year to ensure the Culture Recovery Fund could continue to help organisations in need as the public health picture changed. The funding has been awarded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England as well as the British Film Institute and Arts Council England.
