Historic village church saved from closure by £76K Lottery grant

Churchwarden David Chubb, at St Andrews' Church at Coston, which has been allocated a £76,000 Lottery grant EMN-200313-152958001

Members of St Andrew’s Church at Coston are relieved about the award because the damage caused to the roof by lead thieves in 2018 had led to it being placed on Historic England’s ‘heritage at risk register’.

The Grade 1 listed building has been a central part of the community since Norman times, with part of it dating back to the 11th century.

Priest-in-charge, David Cowie, said: “I am immensely grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for the generous grant, which will make sure there is a future for the church in Coston.

Members of St Andrews' Church at Coston celebrate a £76,000 Lottery grant, from left Henrietta Chubb, a member of the congregation, churchwarden David Chubb and parochial church council secretary Ann-Marie Green EMN-200313-152934001

“I am delighted that our church building can continue as a place where the local villages and worshipping communities can continue to meet for key moments in their lives, connecting us to the history of those who have come before us, and allowing us to hand on the legacy of history to those who will come after.”

Churchwarden David Chubb said: “The importance of the grant cannot be underestimated.

“Without it the church would be under threat of closure.

“The loss of the roof has brought the community of Coston and Garthorpe together.”

St Andrews' Church at Coston, which has been allocated a £76,000 Lottery grant EMN-200313-152947001

The repairs coincide with a project also funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund which will explore the churches and villages of Coston and Garthorpe’s past.

Villagers are working with Dr Pam Fisher, from the Leicestershire Victoria County History Trust, to produce a document detailing the rich history.

There will be a guided walk of the church and historic medieval earthworks this summer as part of Leicestershire’s 2020 Archaeology Festival.

Mr Chubb added: “We are not only able to safeguard the church for the future but we are able to learn about, and share the interesting history of the church and local area.”

St Andrew’s, which is part of the Framland Benefice, has an important historic interior which includes a small corbel, or sculpture, showing a naked demon fully exposed — an unusual feature to be found in a church.

The church, which also has a colony of Pipistrelle bats in its roof, serves residents in both Coston and Garthorpe, two small villages including some isolated rural farms.