A below-ground drainage project at St Mary the Virgin, Hemsby, will protect the church building and help preserve an important local heritage asset.
The project has received a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players. It will ensure rainwater is properly taken away from the church, preventing further damage.
For some time, the existing drainage has not worked effectively, allowing water to pool around the building. This has caused damage to the nave walls both externally and internally, with damp also making the church difficult to heat. At times, water has effectively formed a moat around the building.
Work will begin on Monday 13 July 2026 and is expected to take around eight weeks, with completion in September. Once finished, the walls will be able to dry out, allowing further repair work to take place.
The project will also improve how the church is shared with visitors and the wider community, including updates to the guidebook and new photography online.
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) has raised funds for the project and will also release reserves. Additional support has come from the Norfolk Churches Trust, Geoffrey Watling Charity, Paul Bassham Charitable Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation, The Benefact Trust, Aurelius Charitable Trust, The National Churches Trust (Headley Trust) and the Bishop of Norwich Fabric Fund.
With funding secured and work about to begin, the church community looks forward to seeing St Mary the Virgin protected for future generations.