Made possible by National Lottery players, the £140,900 project funding received will enable the Friends to implement the two main aims of their project.
Urgent works of repair and improvement to the church buildings will be carried out including the installation of a new rainwater dispersal system, external repairs to the north chancel roof, tower, windows and external walls and internal renovation including re-plastering the nave. Work is expected to commence in the Spring of 2020 and to take approximately six months to complete.
The improved building will be developed as a community hub, through a programme of events to improve the well-being and cohesion of the community in the widest sense, ensuring that as many people as possible can appreciate, understand and enjoy the heritage of All Saints Gresham.
The programme of events will include the creation of an online data resource for those tracing their family history, using information from the historic graveyard; a children’s guide to the church, produced by pupils from Gresham Village School; a series of lectures on local history focusing on areas connected with the heritage of the church and a programme of mixed arts courses for those who are sometimes overlooked in society. The churchyard will also be used by the school as an outdoor classroom and the church will be available as a concert and exhibition space for the community.
The Friends of All Saints are very grateful to National Lottery players and all those within the local and wider community of Gresham and North Norfolk for their support and previous fundraising for this project. All Saints Gresham will become a warm and welcoming hub, playing an active and diverse role in the life of its community.
Commenting on the award, Julia Drury, chair of the Friends of All Saints, said:
“We’re absolutely delighted that, thanks to National Lottery players, we’ve received this support, from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. All Saints Church has been an integral and iconic landmark within the village and the North Norfolk landscape for more than 1000 years. Now we can really believe our vision will come to fruition: the dry and refurbished church building will provide an enhanced environment both for church services and a wide variety of social, educational and cultural opportunities, for the community and visitors to Gresham, for the next 1000 years.”