A SOMERSET church has received a £25,000 grant from the Culture Recovery Fund to carry out 'essential' repair works.

St Bartholomew’s Church in East Lyng will use the funds to repair the church tower to stop water seeping into the bell tower and eroding the ancient masonary and rotting the stays, which hold the six bells in place.

The grant comes at a crucial time as further damage to the church would have rendered it unsafe and beyond repair.

Grants of up to £25,000 are being allocated to cherished heritage sites, like St. Bartholomew’s, across the country to cover urgently needed maintenance and repairs.

The funding comes from a part of the Culture Recovery Fund called the Heritage Stimulus Fund and is administered on behalf of the government by Historic England.

As well as rescuing precious heritage buildings in need, the injection of cash will protect livelihoods for some of the most vulnerable heritage specialists and contractors working in the sector.

Christine Dawson, chairman of the parish council and member of the Parochial Church Council said: “We are delighted to receive this funding from the Culture Recovery Fund. It will make a significant difference to the work we need to carry out to St. Bartholomew’s, so that the church can continue to play an important part in the life of our community.”

St. Bartholomew’s or ‘Lyng Church,’ as it is commonly known by the locals plays an important role in the community following the loss of the village pub several years ago.

It is the hub of the community for worship, celebrations, community and cultural events and the only venue which is big enough for locals to gather together.

The tower, stands 60 feet high and has six bells, the oldest cast in 1612. The church can boast two full teams of bell ringers and whilst the pandemic may have silenced them temporarily, they cannot wait to return.

Duncan Wilson, Historic England Chief Executive said: “Historic places across the country are being supported by the Government’s grants awarded under the Culture Recovery Fund. This funding is a lifeline which is kick-starting essential repairs and maintenance at many of our most precious historic sites, so they can begin to recover from the damaging effects of COVID-19.

“It is also providing employment for skilled craft workers who help keep historic places alive and the wheels of the heritage sector turning. Our shared heritage is an anchor for us all in these challenging times and this funding will help to ensure it remains part of our collective future.”