Children taking part in a recent bug hunt activity at St James Churchyard, Southam.
The Diocese of Coventry, with Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and Caring for God’s Acre, are delighted to have been awarded funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for the first stage of a six-year £2 million project.
The project will help Anglican churches in Coventry & Warwickshire work with local communities to manage their churchyards. Development funding of £195,176 has been awarded by the Heritage Fund to help the Diocese of Coventry progress their plans to apply for a full grant of £1,798,090 million at a later date.
Churchyards often function as local parks, with huge potential for people, nature and heritage, but are mostly managed by church volunteers. Made possible thanks to National Lottery players, this project will provide specialist staff and funding to prepare management plans and involve more people in activities that improve access and biodiversity and celebrate local heritage.
Seventy Coventry and Warwickshire churches have signed up for this ground-breaking project, which will be delivered with Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and Caring for God’s Acre. This initial grant from the Heritage Fund will enable detailed plans to be developed with each church for a 5-year delivery programme.
Jacqueline Ladds, Diocesan Secretary & Chief Executive, said:
“Thank you to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for supporting this project, which will equip local communities to manage their churchyards as treasured green spaces and wildlife havens. Pride of place is important for people to feel part of their community. Churchyards hold fascinating stories of local people and their families. We hope to uncover and celebrate these stories and re-connect local people with their place.”
Robyn Llewellyn, Director, England, Midlands & East at The National Lottery Heritage Fund said:
“We are pleased to support The Anglican Diocese of Coventry and their partners with this grant of £195,000. Through our Heritage in Need: Places of Worship Strategic Initiative we are committed to supporting places of worship to build skills, partnerships and community involvement to care for their heritage. This project, working across Coventry and Warwickshire, will address challenges facing places of worship across the UK and share what they learn widely - benefitting people, heritage and biodiversity.”