Grant funds church improvements
A church in the diocese can now open its doors to everyone thanks to the installation of a new wheelchair ramp.
After securing thousands of pounds from the Diocese of Truro’s Minor Repairs and Improvements grant, a ramp has now been installed inside the entrance to St Mawgan Church – and it is already in use.
A report sent to the diocese read: “It fits in so well it looks like it has always been there – a beautiful piece of carpentry originally sketched by Kevin Lay, designed by Chris Hunter of Scott & Co, and made by Jay Lomax.”
The report revealed ‘so many people can now benefit from this’ including wheelchair users, those with wheeled walkers, parents and carers with buggies and ‘those who don’t like going up or down steps, and those who like a handrail’.
People are now being invited to go along to the church and see the ramp for themselves. The church is open every day usually from 9am, sometimes earlier, until about dusk.
The ramp is part of the ‘Restoration and Heritage Re-interpretation of St Mawgan-in-Pydar church for community and visitors’ project which has been awarded a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Faye Edwardes, Church Buildings Officer at Diocese of Truro, said: “We are delighted to have supported this great project by contributing a Minor Repairs and Improvements grant of £4,500 from the Buildings for Mission programme.
“Improvements that help parishes to welcome those with access needs to our churches are always worthwhile and we look forward to seeing more proposals for such projects across the diocese.
“We are looking forward to the launch of the new Parish Accessibility Fund that will be available to parishes to apply to from 1st April. The Parish Accessibility Fund offered through the Disability Project aims to help parishes to enhance accessibility and inclusion for those who are deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent and offers grants up to £50,000 so support such projects.”
Find out more here: https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/barrier-free-belonging/parish-accessibility-fund
