St David, Newbold on Stour, well known for its magnificent stained glass, is to share in a £473,700 funding package from the National Churches Trust.
A £5,000 National Churches Trust Cornerstone Grant will help fund urgent work to St David’s church to keep it at the heart of the local community.
Broadcaster and journalist Huw Edwards, Vice President of The National Churches Trust, said:
“I’m delighted that the much loved church of St David, Newbold on Stour is being helped with a £5,000 National Churches Trust Cornerstone Grant. The grant will help fund the installation of a much needed kitchen and toilets, safeguarding unique local heritage and help St David continue to support local people.”
A total of 47 churches and chapels in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will benefit from the latest grants from the National Churches Trust, the charity supporting church buildings of all Christian denominations across the UK. £155,700 of the £473,000 grant funding has been provided by the Wolfson Foundation.
In 2021 the National Churches Trust has awarded or recommended 273 grants totalling £3.67 million to help keep church buildings open and in good repair. The total includes £2 million from the Heritage Stimulus Fund, part of the Government’s Cultural Recovery Fund.
The parish of St David's, Newbold on Stour with Armscote, was built in 1835. It is a large church built in the Gothic style of local two toned white/grey sandstone with rich brown accents of ironstone, lancet windows, and an open roof with ornamental rafters.
The stained-glass windows of the chancel are completely filled with late Victorian glass, the most significant being the east window of three lancets, dated 1884, most likely the work of Lavers & Westlake. The central window is an unusual depiction of the Apocalyptic Christ as described in the Revelation of St John. The "Son of Man" holds an open book, seven stars in his right hand, and a sword issuing from his mouth; before Him stand seven lampstands and below ecclesiastics look up in adoration.
The smaller lancets flanking this are more down to earth depictions of Christ as teacher and healer.
At the west end is the church's newest feature, the central window of three more stepped lancets, which was filled with stained glass by Derek Hunt in 2006 in a very modern style with striking montage of Christian symbols in a columnar composition.
The grant will help fund the installation of a kitchen and toilets. Newbold’s population is growing and the new facilities will enable the church hold a wide range of community events. This will substantially increase revenue, helping put the church on a firmer financial footing.
Churchwarden, Gillian Marsden who is overseeing the project said:
"The completion of this project will have a life-changing effect on our parish church, it will open up numerous opportunities to expand and extend the use of the building for the community."