A CHURCH in East Yorkshire has received a £150,000 boost thanks to a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, writes Caroline Mortimer.

More than £1.8 million in funding has been designated to 17 of the most important listed churches across the region – among them St Martin’s Church, in Fangfoss.

The 12th century church will use its slice of the funding to give the building a facelilft.

The Grade II* listed building will repair roofs, including replacing slipped slates, repairing abutment flashing and repointing ridges. Repairs will also be made to stonework to the south porch, west gable and south elevation.

Fiona Spiers, head of HLF Yorkshire and Humber, said: “Historic places of worship form prominent and much loved landmarks in our villages, towns and cities across Yorkshire and Humber.

“They are unique buildings that bring local communities together for a variety of reasons from worship through to culture and leisure.”

Trevor Mitchell, the Yorkshire Planning Director of English Heritage, which is administering the project, said: “Listed places of worship make up an elemental part of the historic fabric of England. They are familiar and much loved landmarks for our villages, towns and cities and it is crucial they are cared for and repaired.

“Thanks to the joint working between the Heritage Lottery Fund and English Heritage these wonderful buildings, which mean so much to so many, will remain part of our story for years to come.”

The church was originally constructed during the Norman period and rebuilt by celebrated English architect, Robert Dennis Chantrell in 1849-50.

The Heritage Lottery Fund’s scheme, due to run until June this year, is designed to fund restoration projects under £250,000 of historic places of worship in England.

It has so far give £500 million to more than 30,000 projects across the UK.