Big Society Event - This Friday Evening!!

Just a reminder that "What Does the Big Society mean for you?" is happening at Chantry Hall Bedale this Thursday evening between 7pm and 9pm. If you want to know about the opportunities now open to your church come along to Chantry Hall, North End, Bedale.

To book a place email alice.ullathorne@riponleeds-diocese.org.uk or phone 0113 2000544.

English Heritage/Heritage Lottery - Repair Grants for Places of Worship Scheme

The application forms for the English Heritage/Heritage Lottery Fund Repairs Grants for Places of Worship Scheme are now available online at:

Repair Grants for Places of Worship

Alternatively you can get a application form from the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Office at:

37 Tanner Row
York
YO1 6WP
Tel: 01904 601901

Or if you are in the county of Durham from the North East Regional Office at:

Bessie Surtees House
41-44 Sandhill
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE1 3JF
Tel: 0191 2611130

Application for grade I and II* listed churches and chapels need to be in by 30th June and applications for grade II listed churches need to be in by 30 September.

If you are a grade I or II* and do not wish to accept money from the Heritage Lottery Fund on moral grounds, English Heritage will fund the repairs.

If you are applying for a grant the Regional English Heritage office are very helpful and they prefer have a conversation with you before you put your application in to make sure you are eligible, to help you through the process and to keep track of the number of applications they are likely to receive.

If you need any advice on the scheme, whether to apply and if you are eligible do get in touch:

Alice Ullathorne

Church Building Support Officer, 

Ripon & Leeds Diocesan Office,

St Mary's Street,

Leeds LS9 7DP.    

Telephone: 0113 2000 544  
email: Alice.Ullathorne@riponleeds-diocese.org.uk

Very Exemplar of the month-ish - St Oswald's Askrigg

I thought it was about time I presented another exemplar of what is possible. This is a simpler example than the last but includes the introduction of a toilet and kitchen into the church in a really sympathetic way. The new facilities exactly meet the needs of Askrigg and allow the congregation to hold a range of different types of events within the church as well as making it more visitor friendly. The design of the new facilities is utterly in keeping and unobtrusive. You can watch about the project on this clip of the Your Church, Your Vision DVD that has been put on YouTube:

What Does the Big Society mean for you? - Event - Bedale - 27th May

On Friday 27th May, 7-9pm we will be holding an event at Chantry Hall, North End, Bedale (next to St Gregory's Church) to explore what Big Society means, the opportunities for churches and how to engage with the process. The event will also give the opportunity for discussion and look at how churches can open themselves up to wider community uses. To book a place email alice.ullathorne@riponleeds-diocese.org.uk or phone 0113 2000544.

Holy Spirit, Beeston Hill - Treasures Revealed Open House

Holy Spirit Church, Beeston Hill, Leeds is holding an event this Saturday (7^th May) to help shape the vision for the church within Beeston Hill. The church is opening its doors to young and old for a fun packed day for all the community. There will be opportunities for those who have views about Beeston Hill, the church and its future to have their say and help the church to make decisions about what path to take in the future. All suggestions are welcome from event venue to community café to circus training centre. All you need to bring is your ideas and views about where you live.

English Heritage/Heritage Lottery - Repair Grants for Places of Worship Scheme

If you're planning to apply for the Repair Grants for Places of Worship scheme for grade I and II* churches at the end of June you will find that you won't be able to get the application form from the regional office or the website until May as the form is currently being approved by both funders before going live in May.

A Plea for Help - Heritage Lottery Fund Consultation - deadline 26th April

Though it might sound dull it's really important that as many people fill in the current Heritage Lottery Fund Consultation as possible. There is a long and short form. The latter only takes a matter of minutes and can be found by clicking on "Public: register your vote" on the link below:

Heritage Lottery Fund Consultation

At present there has been a low turn out in the consultation from places of worship. The consultation will shape how the HLF spends it's money in the future so if there is not enough representation from faith organisations such as the dioceses and churches schemes like the Repair Grants for Places of Worship will be at risk. The scheme is the largest funder for repairs to churches so the loss of the scheme would be catastrophic for our listed church buildings. So if you want to keep the Repair Grants for Places of worship scheme get online Now!!!