ENGLISH HERITAGE have reported a brighter future for the Grade I listed, St Andrew Church in Paull in a report published yesterday.
FACED WITH crumbling stonework and roofs, local people feared that St Andrew Church might be closed down. But spurred on by a grant from English Heritage, they have raised funds and established a café used by walkers and a nearby riverside heritage trail (Hedon Blog post).
The praise from English Heritage was announced as the first ever sample survey of the 1,300 listed places of worship in Yorkshire and the Humber was published yesterday by the Government News Distribution service (Wednesday 30 June, see Press Release)
The survey, which is part of English Heritage’s Heritage at Risk initiative, was carried out to assess the state of repair of places of worship and also to find out how congregations are coping with the responsibility of looking after these buildings, especially in the current difficult economic climate.
The Humber has 275 listed churches and chapels. Of these 175 are in the East Riding (71 at Grade I, the highest ranking, denoting outstanding national significance); 17 in Hull (2 at Grade I); 54 in North Lincs (26 at Grade I); and 29 in North East Lincs (2 at Grade I).
In response to the survey, English Heritage has produced Caring for Places of Worship, a practical guide, DVD and website www.english-heritage.org.uk/powar which congregations can use for help and advice. This will be sent to all of the region’s places of worship.
Another good mention about the St Andrew Church in Paull in the Hull Daily Mail today.