Annual conservation grants for churches revealed
More than £260,000 was distributed by the Church of England last year to support conservation of historic items and works of art in parish churches across the country including conservation of curtains by the pioneering 20th century textile artist Hilary Bourne, at St Margaret’s Church in Ditchling, Sussex
A total of £262,980 was awarded in 2024 to 124 projects in 33 dioceses, including wall paintings, monuments, church bells and even medieval graffiti.
The conservation grants programme Is administered by the Church of England’s Cathedral and church buildings department from funds provided by The Pilgrim Trust, The Radcliffe Trust, the Anglican Parish Churches Fund, The Oswald Allen Fund, the Gunnis Fund and the Church of England Net Zero Fund.
Hilary Bourne was famous as a textile designer, working with her partner Barbara Allen to produce designs for a range of events from the Festival of Britain to Charlton Heston’s costume in the 1959 blockbuster film Ben Hur.
The hand spun, handwoven curtains usually hang across the West Door of the church and were woven by Hilary herself in 1980 in memory of her mother Hilda.
The inscription reads: “In memory of Hilda Bourne for forty six years a member of this church who lived to be almost 103.
Jenny Kilbride, volunteer fundraiser at St Margaret's, and a weaver herself, said: “We are so grateful for the grant which has enabled the restoration of these important curtains, an intrinsic part of the church’s fabric and history. Whilst the church is currently undergoing some major work in the choir stalls, we have delayed the installation of the curtains until the work is completed. It will be a special day when it happens.”
The curtains have caught the imagination of the national communications team at the Church of England who are preparing to visit the church to film the curtains when they are re-installed.
The total spending for 2024 has been published after the Church of England opened a new expanded fund of £4.68 million for the conservation of special historic and cultural items in parishes, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund
Emily Gee, Director for Cathedral and Church Buildings for the Church of England, said: “I am hugely grateful to our funders who do so much to help enable this crucial conservation work and thrilled that the Church of England’s conservation grants scheme is being expanded this year, to help even more churches with their projects, as a result of the brilliant support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
“Every precious item or monument detailed in this report is cared for by volunteers and supporters who give their time and expertise so generously to preserving the special heritage of Church of England churches. I would like to express our immense gratitude to them for their dedication to such an important shared heritage.”
Church Times article featuring the church and Hilary Bourne connection (2023) here