A much-loved Rutland church is to share in a £421,000 urgent funding pay-out from the National Churches Trust.

A £3,730 National Churches Trust Gateway Grant will help to pay for urgent window repairs, including re-leading and stonework repairs, at the Grade I Listed church of All Saints' in Oakham. The church will also receive a £7,513 Wolfson Fabric Repair Grant from the Wolfson Foundation on the recommendation of the National Churches Trust to help fund the work.

Broadcaster and journalist Huw Edwards, Vice President of the National Churches Trust, said: "I'm delighted that All Saints' is receiving a Christmas funding boost for urgent window repair at this this very historic church. This will safeguard unique local heritage and keep the church open and in use for the benefit of local people."

"Whether seeking quiet reflection, access to community services or as a place to worship, the National Churches Trust helps hundreds of churches each year and with the support of local people, keeps them thriving today and tomorrow."

Paul Ramsbottom, Chief Executive of the Wolfson Foundation said: "As well as being places of worship and buildings of beauty, churches sit at the heart of the community. In many ways they stand between the past and present. We are thrilled to continue our partnership with the National Churches Trust to support the preservation of these significant, much-loved historic buildings across the UK."

Help for churches 49 churches across the UK will stay open and in good repair thanks to £421,000 of funding awarded by the National Churches Trust in this latest round of grants. In 2022, the National Churches Trust has made over 200 grants to churches throughout the United Kingdom with funding totalling more than £1.6m.

This year, such funding also helped to remove 18 churches from the Historic England Heritage at Risk register.

The first church on the site dates to around 1200, but the current building is mostly 13th and 14th century, in a mix of Decorated and Perpendicular styles. The font is probably the earliest feature; it dates to around 1180.

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The National Churches Trust added: "The main historical interest is the 14th-century carved capitals that adorn the nave columns. These depict a wonderful variety of animals, foliage, Biblical figures, humans, birds, and a finely carved Green Man with foliage emerging from his mouth. The capitals on the north side of the nave represent paganism, and those on the south side represent the salvation of mankind through Christianity. The quality of the carving is superb, and it is easy to pick out the figures.

"At the west end of the nave is the font, with a quite wonderful Saxon or early Norman bowl atop a modern central column. This sits atop a base that is likely part of a medieval market cross All Saints' benefited from a substantial restoration by Sir George Gilbert Scott in the 19th century."

Paul Wiggin, PCC member and leading the windows project said: "We are absolutely delighted with the outcome of the grant application. The money from National Churches Trust and the Wolfson Repair Grant will enable us to complete the project."

The window restoration is "urgently required". If the damage is not rectified, it could result in making the building unsafe. The £3,730 Gateway Grant and the £7,513 Wolfson Fabric Repair Grant will facilitate window repairs including releading and stonework repairs.

The National Churches Trust are making this work on All Saints' Church possible.

The National Churches Trust is the leading national independent charity concerned with the protection and welfare of churches, chapels and meeting houses throughout the United Kingdom.

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