Immanuel Church in Oswaldtwistle Receives £250,000 for Urgent Repairs

Historic Lancashire Church Secures Major Funding for Restoration

A cherished piece of Oswaldtwistle’s history is set to undergo much-needed renovations thanks to a substantial financial injection. Immanuel Church, a Grade II-listed building from the 1830s, has obtained £250,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to conduct vital repairs to its roof.

This historic church, central to the Parish of Oswaldtwistle, is not only a landmark but a hub of activity for the community. It regularly hosts significant life events such as baptisms, weddings, and funerals, along with numerous community gatherings and international visits.

With the new funding, church leaders are optimistic about not only preserving the building but also engaging the community through training programs and heritage events aimed at involving residents, schools, and volunteers.

Wendy Hope, Churchwarden at Immanuel Church, expressed gratitude for the financial support, stating, “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.”

The Venerable Jane Atkinson, Archdeacon of Blackburn, also praised the funding as a crucial investment in a building that holds a significant place in the community’s life. She said, “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.”

This grant arrives at a time when many historic churches in England are grappling with rising repair costs and the challenge of securing funding for essential work. Recently, the National Churches Trust (NCT) criticized changes to government support for listed places of worship, following the replacement of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme with a new, more limited funding program.

The NCT has voiced concerns that churches are unfairly burdened by the requirement to pay the full 20% VAT on repairs, despite their role as community assets and custodians of heritage collections. The organization warned that the financial strain could be particularly challenging for smaller communities with limited fundraising capabilities.

In this context, the award to Immanuel Church underscores the vital role of charitable and lottery funding in safeguarding the ecclesiastical heritage of Britain.