Historic England Grants Over £1 Million for London Church Repairs

In a significant boost for the preservation of London’s historic architecture, Historic England has allocated more than £1 million in grants to aid the restoration of three churches listed as at risk.

At the forefront, St Andrew’s Church in Islington and St Richard’s Church in Richmond each receive close to £430,000. The Union Chapel’s Sunday School in Islington is also set to benefit from over £172,000.

All three sites are currently featured on the Heritage at Risk Register, emphasizing their need for urgent restoration efforts.

The spire of St Andrew’s Church, a structure dating back to the mid-19th century, will undergo critical repairs funded by this grant. Additional financial support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and a local charity complements this initiative.

St Richard’s Church, an architectural gem by Ralph Covell, stands out with its Star of David design. Despite its unique style, the building requires structural reinforcements, as parts of the roof are currently supported by scaffolding, leading to its closure.

Funds for St Richard’s will be used for internal propping and a large protective canopy to prevent further damage, with full repairs estimated at around £3 million. Similar to St Andrew’s, this church has secured nearly £250,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The Union Chapel’s Sunday School, undergoing renovations since 2024, benefits from a £2.3 million grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The recent contribution from Historic England aims to bring the restoration to completion.

Tom Foxall, regional director of Historic England, remarked, “These three special buildings are not only beautiful historic places in need of urgent funding for repairs, but they are all essential to their local communities as important places to meet, bond, worship in, and enjoy.

“We’re proud to step in to help ensure people can continue to benefit from these magnificent spaces and take pride in the remarkable heritage on their doorstep.

“Working in partnership with The National Lottery Heritage Fund and other generous supporters means our money can go further and essential repairs are completed sooner.”