Newark Parish Church makes Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register but hopes £200,000 National Lottery grant will re-awaken St Mary Magdalene
Newark’s iconic parish church has made Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register, but it is hoped its future will be ‘re-awakened’ thanks to a substantial grant.
St Mary Magdalene Church, which can be seen from miles around, urgently needs attention with the money generated through a dwindled congregation not enough to safeguard its future.
Development funding of £209,000 has been awarded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to help St Mary Magdalene progress plans to apply for a full National Lottery grant of £1.9m at a later date, which, it is hoped would lead to removal from the list.
Churchwarden Andrew Fearn said: “The Church of England expects churches to be maintained by the congregation and while this may be possible with a small parish church, it is a hideous concept for one as large as St Mary Magdalene.”
Colleague Tony Roberts said: “I would argue that St Mary Magdalene is the most iconic building in Newark, and probably supersedes the town hall and Buttermarket.
“What would this town be like without that spire and tower?
“It has been there for the best part of 900 years and in that time the weather has eroded its majesty. When it was completed, Newark had a population of five to six thousand. People wanted to make a statement to God but also those around and about.
“This is about protecting the building which is a working building for both the community and for Christian worship.
“The congregation was 1,000 people at one point, now with all of the services in a week, it is more like 150 to 200. We need folks to come into the church for religious reasons, but equally to experience what a lovely building it is.
“It is fair comment it is badly in need of repair, but these aren’t tasks for jobbing builders, the work has to be done by specialist craftspersons.
“We have major problems with leaking roofs, notably now with the south aisle and we have had lead stolen.
“It’s like the adage of the Forth Bridge; once painted you then have to start all over again.
“We’ve had to apply to grant-giving bodies. I sincerely hope this grant will see us removed from the At Risk Register.”
As part of its stewardship, parish church authorities asked for St Mary Magdalene’s inclusion on the at risk register.
The church has been awarded Heritage Fund grant to develop a bid totalling £1.9m to pay for a wide range of repairs and renovations forming the Re-awakening of St Mary Magdalene; Supporting Newark’s Communities project.
The re-awakening project aims to repair and renovate critical aspects of the church including to re-roof the south nave and, at the same time, install 120 solar panels; install new electrical and lighting systems with new central heating, repairs to external masonry and stained glass, as well as re-ordering the south and west entrances.
These works will improve the church environment to enable more community users, in particular, the enclosure of the north transept will create a sound-proofed room to enable groups of all ages to meet separately to the main church. Technical work on the masonry and windows will offer specific learning opportunities to young people interested in those skills.
Mr Fearn said: “We’re delighted that we’ve received this support thanks to National Lottery players. The church has given the town a focus for Christian worship and community activities of many sorts.”
