All Saints' Church, Willby, receives urgent funding from National Churches Trust

Clergy members at a much-loved church in Wilby have promised to expand their work in the community after receiving tens of thousands of pounds in funding for urgent repair work.

Towards the end of last month, All Saints’ Church in Wilby was informed it would receive £30,000 in funding to undertake vital repairs to the chancel’s roof, stonework and mortar.

Of the funding, £20,000 will come from the National Churches Trust, with a further £10,000 from the Wolfson Foundation.

“These very exciting awards mean the church can increase its mission to the parishioners and the wider community,” said churchwarden David Midgley, who is overseeing the restoration project on behalf of the parochial church council.

“Once the fabric of this tranquil and unique church is secured, then we can focus on developing facilities which will allow our restful, rural church to play a greater role in supporting local groups, as well as strengthening ties to city-based churches.”

BBC News at 10 presenter Huw Edwards, who is vice-president of The National Churches Trust, added: “I’m delighted that the historic church of All Saints’ in Wilby is being helped.

“The grants will safeguard the church’s unique local heritage and help All Saints’ to continue to support local people.”

The church, which is in Church Road, is one of the few in Norfolk to have a virtually complete set of Jacobean fittings, including a three-decker pulpit in its original position amongst the pews. Historians believe a church was on the site before the Norman Conquest.

A total of 47 churches and chapels in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will benefit from the latest grants from the National Churches Trust, the charity supporting church buildings of all Christian denominations across the UK.

The Wolfson Foundation has provided £155,700 of the £473,000 grant funding.