South Derbyshire MP, Heather Wheeler, has welcomed the announcement by the Heritage Lottery Fund of nearly £600,000 for the Transformation of St Wilfrid’s project.
The aim is to carry out essential works to restore, repair and conserve the church for future generations. In addition to making sure that the church’s past is preserved, steps are also planned to ensure that the building can be used by the local community and for education. The Friends of St Wilfrid’s Church hope that in time the church will be self-sufficient.
Amazingly, St Wilfrid’s is one of possibly only two churches of the Knights Hospitaller which survives in its original state. The Knight’s Hospitaller was a medieval Catholic military order and survives to this day.
Commenting on her visit to St Wilfrid’s, Heather said:
“It is such good news that St Wilfrid’s has received this significant sum of money and I know that the Parochial Church Council will put it to good use with their plans for the church’s future.
Churches are an important part of our nation’s heritage and we need to preserve these for future generations regardless of whether you have faith or not.
“I really hope that the work being planned to St Wilfrid’s will serve as a blueprint for other churches to do the same. It was a pleasure to meet everyone involved with this incredible Lottery Bid at the church and I encourage folk to visit and see what the transformation could mean to the church and community.”