A historic Huddersfield church is to get a massive boost.
Emmanuel Church, the parish church of Shelley, is to get help from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to maintain the building.
The Keeping the Roof On project aims to investigate the extent of repairs needed to the nave and chancel roofs as well as designing safe access to the church tower roof. Investigatory work will start in the spring and will be completed by the summer.
The church will remain open at all times.
Funding worth £8,100 has now been awarded to help Emmanuel Church develop their plans to apply for a full grant at a later date.
It is expected that the subsequent grant could be worth tens of thousands of pounds.
The project aims plan the essential repair work, but will also enhance the information on the heritage of this mid-Victorian church and its churchyard by developing new guides and producing information on a single web portal, allowing on-line public access to the heritage of the church for the first time.
The building is a focal point for the local community and is currently used by a number of community groups.
It was built in 1868 and as well as functioning as a place of worship it has increasingly become an important venue for art festivals and concerts.
The church itself contains extensive stained glass reflecting design from Victorian to the modern day.
The Rev Canon Joyce Jones, Priest in Charge at Emmanuel, said “We’re delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has given us this support.
“The church has been a worshipping centre for the village for over 100 years but it is increasingly become an important venue for community activities, something that we want to encourage and to allow more people to learn something of the heritage of the building.
“This grant will help us preserve the heritage for another 100years.
