St Catherine’s Church, Tugford

secures National Lottery Support

July 2019

Great News! The Parish of St Catherine’s Church, Tugford have been awarded a £30,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to help restore the internal fabric of the village church. Three years ago, nearly £200,000 was spent on external restoration, including a new roof and drainage system. Now, the problems inside need to be addressed; large segments of plaster are coming away from the walls, the rising damp has been cured but the residual damage is still evident and unsightly patches have been left in the ceiling where the contractors needed to access rotting roof timbers.

The work is estimated to cost about £40,000 so the National Lottery grant means the Parish are well on their way to securing the necessary funding and are busy putting in place the rest of the necessary finance. The work has now gone out to tender and it is hopeful that the restoration will be completed later in the year. On completion of the work, the church will be ‘fit for purpose’ inside and out, and ready to serve the community for generations to come as it has done for nearly 900 years. A series of events are being planned to coincide with the work, including visits from the local school and the wider community to see demonstrations of the art of lime plastering and a variety of talks. A guide book and a photo exhibition on the history of the church are also being planned.

Tugford is a tiny parish of only around 35 people, which has no shop or pub. The much-loved church is the only community building, yet it still manages to attract over 100 people at concerts, special services and other events. St Catherine’s is a Grade II* listed Norman church nestling at the foot of the Clee Hills in south Shropshire and this essential restoration will complete a cycle of work which will have seen almost £300,000 spent over the last 15 years.

Commenting on the award, churchwarden and treasurer, Colin Porter, said: ‘We are thrilled and grateful to have received this grant, made possible by the National Lottery players and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Without their help this essential restoration would have been almost impossible for our small community to achieve. In 2015, the church was put on English Heritage’s ‘At Risk’ register and completion of this work will ensure the risk of closure is removed once and for all, to the benefit of the local and wider community for generations to come’.

About The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Using money raised by the National Lottery, we inspire, lead and resource the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future. www.heritagefund.org.uk.

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