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It has been announced today that St Andrew & St George Church in Stevenage has been awarded £882,255 through the government’s Places of Worship Renewal Fund, helping to secure the future of the church building and support essential repair work.

The grant will enable urgent repairs to the church roof and fund further investigative work needed to develop plans for additional major repairs.

The award follows a highly competitive application process. St Andrew & St George was the only church in the Diocese invited to submit a full application for national consideration.

Bishop Andrew said:

“I am delighted to hear that St Andrew and St George in Stevenage has been awarded a substantial grant from the Places of Worship Renewal Fund. Churches are indeed built for worship but are also treasures of local heritage and our most enduring provider of neighbourhood charity and social service. Congratulations to St Andrew & St George’s and to all our heroic local teams keeping our churches open, loving, and serving their communities.”

The Revd Karen Mitchell, Rector of St Andrew & St George, welcomed the announcement:

“We are absolutely delighted and immensely grateful to have received this substantial grant from the Places of Worship Renewal Fund. This award is a tremendous encouragement to our congregation and to everyone who values St Andrew & St George’s as a place of worship, community and welcome.

“The roof works are essential to securing the future of our Grade II listed building and protecting its architectural heritage. However, our church is about so much more than bricks and mortar. It is at the heart of our community, providing a place where people can come together, find friendship and support, and know that they are welcome.

“Through initiatives such as our Porch Pantry, Soup & a Roll, Tea & Toast and Ploughman’s Lunch, we seek to respond to local needs, offer practical help to those experiencing hardship, and provide companionship for those who may be feeling isolated.

“This grant brings us an important step closer to ensuring that St Andrew & St George’s remains a safe, welcoming and sustainable place for worship, community life and social action for generations to come. We are hugely thankful to everyone who has helped us reach this milestone, and we look forward to continuing to serve the people of Stevenage.”

Ann Wise, Historic Church Buildings Support Officer for the Diocese of St Albans, said:

“This is excellent news for St Andrew & St George and a real testament to the commitment shown by the congregation and all those involved in caring for the building. The grant will enable essential repair work to move forward and demonstrates that post-war churches, as well as older buildings, can successfully secure major funding for their future.”

St Andrew & St George continues to serve the people of Stevenage through worship, community activities and pastoral support. The funding will help ensure that the church building remains at the heart of local life for generations to come.