AN ‘AT RISK’ Cricklade church will receive a grant worth thousands of pounds to fund urgent repairs.

St Sampson’s Church, Cricklade, has been awarded a £10,000 National Churches Trust Cornerstone Grant to keep the church at the heart of the community.

The church, which will also receive a £5,000 Wolfson Fabric Repair Grant from the Wolfson Foundation, is on the Historic England ‘at risk’ register.

Broadcaster and journalist Huw Edwards, Vice President of The National Churches Trust, said: “I’m delighted that St Sampson’s, Cricklade is being helped with a £10,000 National Churches Trust Cornerstone Grant. The grant will facilitate repairs to the nave roof.

“The grant will safeguard unique local heritage and help St Sampson’s continue to support local people as we begin to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The grant will support a second phase of repairs to the nave roof, which dates back to the 18th century and is subject to thermal movement and slippage.

Adina Grace and Rob Crow, churchwardens at St Sampson’s said: “The awarding of grants from the National Churches Trust and Wolfson Foundation mean we are able to repair the nave roof in spring 2021.

“We are so encouraged and grateful for their support. The church appeal is an on-going project which will result in water-tight lead roofs, repaired stone roofs and a much, improved interior space, which can be used by the whole community of Cricklade.”

St Sampson’s, which features in Simon Jenkins’ England’s Thousand Best Churches 2013, is a landmark of the Upper Thames Valley.

It’s most distinctive features are it’s octagonal buttresses at each corner and its square tower, which was built between 1500 and 1550.

A total of 67 churches and chapels in the UK will benefit from the latest grants from the National Churches Trust, the charity supporting church buildings of all Christian denominations across the UK.

Visit www.stsampsonschurchappeal.co.uk for more.