Four churches in the Diocese of Bristol have been awarded prestigious grants as part of the Church of England’s 2024 conservation scheme, a national initiative supporting the care and preservation of historic treasures in parish churches. With over £260,000 distributed across 124 projects in 33 dioceses, the scheme recognises the importance of safeguarding sacred heritage for future generations.
Among those supported were St Mary, Bitton, which received funding to conserve three unlisted chest tombs; All Saints, Lydiard Millicent, awarded a grant for the restoration of its 1868 organ by John Nicholson; St Leonard, Stanton Fitzwarren, supported in the conservation of a rare Elizabeth I Royal Coat of Arms; and St James the Great, Westerleigh, which secured funding for the conservation of its 1910 organ by J.G. Haskins & Co. These projects reflect the diversity of heritage cared for in local churches, from historic musical instruments to memorials and royal emblems.
The Conservation Grants Programme is administered by the Church of England’s Cathedral and Church Buildings Department, with funding provided by The Pilgrim Trust, The Radcliffe Trust, the Anglican Parish Churches Fund, The Oswald Allen Fund, the Gunnis Fund, and the Church of England’s Net Zero Fund.
This announcement comes as the Church of England launches the 2025 Conservation Grants Programme, part of a major expansion made possible by a £4.68 million grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The expanded scheme will support even more parishes with conservation projects and now also includes funding for essential building repairs that directly impact historic objects.
The Rt Revd Neil Warwick, Bishop of Swindon, welcomed the news:
“I am delighted that four of our churches have received this national recognition and support to preserve their historic fabric. These churches show that conservation is not only about preserving the past, but also sustaining places of beauty, worship and welcome for future generations.”
The conservation grants are also a lifeline to the thousands of volunteers and parishioners who care for England’s extraordinary ecclesiastical heritage. Emily Gee, Director for Cathedral and Church Buildings at the Church of England, also paid tribute to these efforts, saying:
“Every precious item or monument detailed in this report is cared for by volunteers and supporters who give their time and expertise so generously to preserving the special heritage of Church of England churches. I would like to express our immense gratitude to them for their dedication to such an important shared heritage.”
The 2025 Conservation Grants Programme is now open, and churches across the Diocese of Bristol are encouraged to apply. The scheme supports the conservation of historic church interiors and churchyard structures, with particular emphasis on objects of artistic, cultural or historical significance.
Applications can be made online through the Church of England website: www.churchofengland.org/conservationgrants
For enquiries, please contact: conservationgrants@churchofengland.org or church.buildings@bristoldiocese.org
The full annual report and stories from parishes that have received funding are also available via the Church of England’s website.
Image: Stanton Fitzwarren, St Leonard (Diocese of Bristol)