THE Heritage Lottery Fund has provided more than £200,000 for once-in-a-generation repairs and improvements to Bayton Church.

St Bartholomew’s Church, Bayton, has been awarded a grant of over £200,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, it was announced today.

The grant will support a major renovation and improvement project for this important Grade II listed building

Money will be spent to solve long standing problems: re-roofing, providing a new floor, eradicating dry rot and dealing with damp, masonry and plaster problems.

It also aims to improve facilities by installing a mains water supply, kitchen and toilet. These changes will enable more people to enjoy the rich history and heritage and widen its use by the local community.

Additional fundraising in the local community has resulted in raising £45,000 in additional funds and grants have also been awarded by Garfield Weston Foundation, All Churches Trust, Alan Evans Memorial Trust, Worcester and Dudley Historic Churches Trust and National Churches Trust.

The church dates from Norman times and has many important features still remaining although it has been altered substantially over the centuries.

Its last major rebuilding work was over a century ago in 1904/05, costing £1,800, which is equivalent to about £190,000 in today’s terms. Urgent tower repairs were carried out in 2004, costing £50,000.

“This is fantastic news for the community as this generous and other grants, together with the splendid efforts in the local community will help us preserve this delightful historic village church and enable us to make much-needed improvements to the facilities, so that many more people will be able to enjoy the rich history and heritage,” said Jonathan Crickshank, the Vicar of St Bartholomew’s.

"For us, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enhance our village church for the next generation.”