Haworth Parish Church has received a significant boost to its campaign to restore the electricity wiring and to modernise its lighting system with a grant of £2,925 from Allchurches Trust
Just two years after completing a £600,000 restoration of its Victorian roof and spending more than £60,000 on a new central heating system, the Church was stunned to discover that the electrical system needed to be replaced.
The grant will also help light up hidden features of St Michael’s, Haworth. Poor-lighting and accumulated grim have made spectacular nineteenth century murals difficult to see in this well-loved and heavily visited church.
Now the shock of discovering that the whole building needs rewiring has led the congregation to develop a plan to enhance the building.
“We are re-imagining the interior of the church,” said the Rector, the Revd Peter Mullins, “and, if we can pull off the re-wiring and re-lighting programme then redecorate, it’ll look better than it ever has done.”
During the last nine years £750,000 has been raised and spent to repair the church’s roofs and ensure both full access and proper toilet facilities for the disabled.
The Allchurches Trust has now made this grant towards the new essential interior work.
“We are hugely grateful to them for this significant contribution,” said Mr Mullins, “and to people like our Churchwarden Peter Breed and Treasurer Averil Kenyon have worked hard to ensure all the finances and permissions are in place to undertake the work later this year.
“The Trust previously backed our roof restoration project and, without their generous support, it would be very difficult for us to undertake these major works.
“This latest work is part of our Five Year Plan to restore the church and make it fit to continue in its service to the community for the next 100 years.”
Allchurches Trust is one of the UK’s largest grant-making charities and gave a record £16.9 million to churches, charities and communities in 2018. Its funds come from its ownership of Ecclesiastical Insurance Group.
Paul Playford, grants officer at Allchurches Trust, said: “This gem of a church in Haworth is of significant historical interest, having a special place in the hearts of literature lovers, as well as its local community.
“I’m delighted that we’ve been able to add to our previous support by helping to fund this vital electrical work, which will ensure that the church can remain a safe and welcoming place for people coming to visit and to worship.”
The Church community has been working since 2010 to restore the Church which is situated on Church Street, Haworth, and once the wiring and lighting work have been completed, several other projects are still to be undertaken, including the restoration the wall paintings.
