Lancashire parish ‘thrilled’ to receive £250,000 Lottery grant

A parish in Lancashire has been awarded a huge £250k grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. 

The Parish of Oswaldtwistle will use the grant to save the heritage asset of Immanuel Church and ensure it serves its local community for generations to come. The grant will be used to repair and renovate the church roof.

Immanuel Church is one of the oldest churches in Oswaldtwistle, built between 1836 and 1837. It is a beautiful Grade 2 listed building and without this funding from the Heritage Fund the history it holds and the community space it offers for all could be lost forever.

This project will enable extensive conservation work to take place to the church roof. The preservation of this heritage will enable continuous use of the building for both worship and for the community it serves.

Speaking today, Wendy Hope, Churchwarden from The Parish of Oswaldtwistle, said: “We are thrilled to have received this support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players we can restore and preserve the church for generations to come.”

And on hearing news of the grant, Archdeacon of Blackburn, The Venerable Jane Atkinson, added: “I’m delighted to see this investment in Immanuel Church, a place that sits right at the heart of its community. This funding will help to ensure the building can continue to be a space of welcome, worship and connection for generations to come.

“I’m excited to see how it enables even more people to be part of its story in the future as the church continues to share the good news of Jesus Christ.”

Immanuel Church – one of three churches in the Parish of Oswaldtwistle – is well utilised in a variety of different ways in the service of the community, from weddings, baptisms and funerals to hosting local and international visitors; as well as providing community organisations with space to gather. It is a vital and vibrant part of the community, also used with great pride for moments of national celebration.

This funding will ensure that volunteers, local groups and schools will be able to take part in the project through events and training opportunities, allowing even more people to understand part of the heritage of this town.

• The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why, as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage, they are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in their strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Over the next 10 years, they aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities. Find out more here heritagefund.org.uk