A MUCH-loved Eden church is to share in a £429,211 funding payout from the National Churches Trust.

A £8,000 grant will help fund a project to install a kitchen and toilet at St Michael’s Parish Church, Kirkby Thore, near Appleby, enabling the hosting of more community events. The Grade II listed church is on the Historic England ‘Heritage At Risk' register.

St Michael's dates back to the 12th century, but was largely rebuilt in the 14th century after a Scottish raid destroyed much of the building. Its oldest section is the base of the tower, built in 1150.

The “Great Tom” bell, cast in 1450, is the largest in Cumbria. It is thought to have come from nearby Shap Abbey when the abbey was dissolved under Henry VIII.

The project to install a toilet and kitchen comes amid major restoration work after an inspection report found the church needed urgent repairs.

It is hoped the new facilities will help return the church to the centre of village life, as it has been for 900 years, enabling it to host a wider variety of gatherings, from school events to parish meetings, and to become a more attractive venue for weddings and baptisms.

“We are delighted with, and deeply grateful for, this key support for our very challenging project: to re-engage the people of Kirkby Thore with the heritage of their parish church and truly to make the church available and fit for use by everyone," said Margaret Davidson, chair of St Michael’s Parochial Church Council. "Without the belief and help of the National Churches Trust and other financial partners we would not now be close to realising our dreams.”

Broadcaster and journalist Huw Edwards, vice president of The National Churches Trust, said: “The UK's historic churches and chapels are a vital part of our national heritage.

"But to survive, many need to carry out urgent repairs and install modern facilities. The cost of this work is far beyond what most congregations can pay for themselves.

“So I’m delighted that St Michael, Kirkby Thore, is being helped with a £8,000 National Churches Trust grant. A new kitchen and toilet will help the church to serve its village community for many years to come.”

Seventy-seven churches and chapels in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will benefit from the latest grants from the National Churches Trust, the charity supporting church buildings of all Christian denominations across the UK.

In 2018 the National Churches Trust awarded grants of £1.2 million to help 202 projects at churches and chapels around the UK.

Demand for funding from the National Churches Trust continues to grow, with 583 grant applications received in 2018, up from 473 grant applications in 2017, a 23% increase.