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Church repair work will boost heritage skills

Harriet Heywood
BBC News, Cambridgeshire
Mark Fairhurst Tower of St Andrew's Church Soham with heras fencing, a protective measure against falling masonryMark Fairhurst
The restoration of the Grade I listed church and heritage skills project received £270,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and £45,000 from Historic England

Thousands of pounds have been put into helping restore a church and have it "thriving once again".

St Andrew's Church in Soham, Cambridgeshire, was awarded £315,000 to progress plans to restore the building and involve young people in learning heritage skills.

The site had been on Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register since 2018 due to the poor condition of the roof as well as a danger of falling masonry - and damp.

Tony Calladine, East of England Regional Director, Historic England, said the money was not only invested in the church's restoration, but would also create opportunities for young people to develop vital skills.

Peter Scott A Carved wooden angel on the roof of the Church. Peter Scott
Previous projects and heritage building skills workshops at the church resulted in two students actively pursuing careers in flintknapping and heritage carpentry

The 12th Century church hosted the 1792 marriage of Olaudah Equiano, a freed slave whose autobiography was crucial to the abolitionist movement.

In 2018, it was placed on the At Risk register and plans were being developed to repair its lead roofs, replace rotten timber and carry out stonework repairs to the tower.

A major restoration project was planned with funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England, including specialist surveys and piloting activities with local community groups.

The Church said it would apply for a full grant of £2.8m at a later date, which could see work carried out in 2027.

Mark Fairhurst St Andrew's Church Soham fair. There are stalls set up on the grass next to the church with people walking and browsing. The church stands tall in the background on what is a bight and sunny day. Mark Fairhurst
Initial funding will help the church progress their plans to remove the church from Historic England's Heritage At Risk register

Rev Eleanor Whalley, the Vicar of Soham, said: "Both the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England told us they'd been impressed by St Andrew's Church's existing partnerships with Soham's schools, local businesses and professionals working within the heritage buildings sector, and by the activities we host during Black History Month.

"Soham is a fantastic place in which to live and work, and we hope this project will build on these links."

The St Andrew's project also aimed to inspire careers in heritage skills like stonemasonry, carpentry, leadwork and blacksmithing at Soham Village College.

Mr Calladine said: "Together, we're not only investing in the church's restoration but creating opportunities for young people to develop vital skills, inspiring the next generation of craftspeople and strengthening community bonds.

"I look forward to seeing this important Grade I listed building thriving once again at the heart of its community."

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