Grants to save 1,000-year-old church from closure

There has been a church on the site since the 10th Century

A church has been awarded £50,000 in urgent grants to ensure its chancel roof can be repaired before it collapses.

St Andrew's Church at Kildwick, between Skipton and Keighley, is a Grade I-listed building and a church has been on the site since the 10th Century.

A net has been placed beneath the roof to catch any falling masonry and protect visitors to give the community time to raise the necessary funds for repairs.

The church is to receive a £40,000 grant from the National Churches Trust, and on its recommendation a further £5,000 Wolfson Fabric Repair Grant from the Wolfson Foundation and a £5,000 grant from the Headley Trust.

The Rev Mike Green, vicar of St Andrew's, said the grants had come at a "crucial time" for the church and community.

"The roof of our chancel was in such a dire state that we were on the brink of closing it to visitors.

"This would have meant cancelling at a number of weddings and facing the very real possibility of the roof collapsing entirely."

The church is open seven days a week and hosts everything from parent and toddler groups to school visits to archaeology, Scouts and Guides groups.

Rev Green said having to shut the building would have been devastating for the church and the community.

"The closure of the church would have put our heritage at risk and jeopardised all the community work we do."

Netting has been installed beneath the chancel roof to catch any falling masonry

The funds from the National Churches Trust are part of a £1m urgent payout, designed to keep UK churches open and in use.

Chief executive of the trust Claire Walker said the grant would not only protect the building but "help keep the church building open and serving local people".

"Whether seeking quiet reflection, access to community services or a place to worship, the National Churches Trust helps hundreds of churches each year and with the support of local people, keeps them thriving today and tomorrow."

Early Saxon crosses found in the church are evidence that a stone building must have existed on the site from around the mid 10th Century.

The existing building dates from the 14th Century but parts of it have 12th Century origins.

Apart from religious worship, the church hosts a number of community events and organisations

The money will enable all the damaged and failing plaster on the chancel to be replaced and insulation will also be added to the chancel roof as the slate is repaired.

Rev Green said they hope the work will be completed before the end of the year and in time for them to "celebrate Christmas with a sound roof for the first time in nearly 15 years".

"This grant means that our church can continue to be a place of worship, a hub for community activities, and a symbol of our shared history. It ensures that we can keep our doors open and continue to serve and support our community in countless ways."

Rev Green said the church would also work with North Yorkshire Council to help increase tourism to the area by promoting the church as a heritage attraction.

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