Cubert Church, on the Historic England ‘Heritage at Risk’ Register, is set to benefit from a £596,000 rescue funding package from the National Churches Trust, the UK’s church repair and support charity.

The church has been awarded a £40,000 National Churches Trust Cornerstone Grant to help fund a project to carry out urgent roof, tower and structural repairs.

St Cubert’s is a village church, open to all. The repair work will keep the church dry and prevent further damp and make the building safe for use and sustainable for the future.

A total of 36 churches and chapels in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will benefit from the latest grants from the National Churches Trust, the UK church repair and support charity.

Top of the 2016 list of funding requests received by the charity include repairs to roofs, stonework and drainage and the provision of toilets and kitchens.

Huw Edwards, Vice-President of the National Churches Trust

Broadcaster and Journalist Huw Edwards, Vice-President of the National Churches Trust said: “I’m delighted that this Christmas the future of Cubert Church is being safeguarded by a National Churches Trust grant to help fund urgent roof and tower repairs.

“The funding will help ensure that the architectural heritage of this historic church can be preserved for all to enjoy and that it can continue to serve local people for many years to come.”

“Churches and chapels are some of the UK’s best loved buildings. But their future is not guaranteed.”

“This Christmas, when people visit a church or chapel for a carol service or even just walk past a church on the way to do the Christmas shopping, I urge them to think about how they can help ensure that churches can remain open and in good repair.”

“Everyone can make a contribution to the future of the UK’s church and chapel buildings. That could be by helping to clear drains and gutters to help keep churches watertight or by keeping an eye out for vandals or thieves.”

“Churches and chapels may be historic buildings, but they can be part of our future, too.”

St Cubert Church

The site of Cubert Church has been a place of worship since 700 AD. Started in the 14th century, the church has undergone various restorations, not least in the mid 1800s after lightning struck both the tower and the spire. The church is unusual in that its spire and tower are more or less equal in height. It is a rare example of a rural Cornish church that hasn’t had a major Victorian restoration, and retains many original features.

The National Churches Trust is the leading national independent charity concerned with the protection and welfare of churches, chapels and meeting houses throughout the United Kingdom. They aim to provide grants for the repair, maintenance and modernisation of church buildings, act as a catalyst to improve and bring more resources to the management of church buildings, and promote the value of church buildings to the community at large.

For more information on the National Church Trust, visit www.nationalchurchestrust.org.