Norfolk church to benefit from a share of more than £12m of government funding

The money will go towards making the church more accessible

St Peter's Church, Haveringland
Author: Sian RochePublished 25th Sep 2023
Last updated 25th Sep 2023

A church in Norfolk's been declared a "cherished institution" and is receiving thousands of pounds of government funding.

St. Peter's Church in Haveringland is one of forty-five treasured spaces in villages, towns and cities across the UK getting a share of more than £12.3m in funding, which the government says will enable them to be run by the community, for the community.

£48,000 from the government's Community Ownership Fund is going towards St Peters, and will be used to install an accessible WC and kitchen, thus ensuring the future viability and sustainability of the site so it can continue to run its community hub.

What other institutions are getting funding?

Other notable institutions receiving funding including a historic Yorkshire railway bridge, which carries the railway line over Bridgehouse Beck between Keighley and Oxenhope, which will receive £1 million for an urgent repair.

It will protect a tourist rail line which is used by more than 250,000 passengers a year, and improve transport infrastructure in the region so that the local economy can continue to thrive.

The original bridge was built in 1867, and the railway line has featured in dozens of films and TV shows over the years including The Railway Children in 1970.

An educational aerospace discovery centre in Kinross will be created with £300,000 from the fund, offering interactive learning opportunities and exhibitions which will inspire future generations to pursue STEM careers.

The Vale of Aeron pub in Ystrad Aeron, Wales, which was known as a favourite haunt of the legendary poet Dylan Thomas, has been given £300,000 for renovations to keep it open and make it accessible to the whole community.

"Keeping them going is vital for supporting communities"

Jacob Young, Minister for Levelling Up, said:

“Our priority is to support communities and deliver opportunities right across the country, which is why we’re investing £12.3m to secure the future of cherished community institutions.

“These places – from pubs to historic railway lines – are the golden thread which run through our social fabric, and keeping them going is vital for supporting communities.”

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