CHURCHES in Worcestershire have received a cash boost from the Government to help conserve them for future generations.

Several churches in the county have benefited from £42 million boost following grants from The Department for Culture, Media and Sport for conservation and maintenance. 

Close to 50 churches across the county have received grants ranging between hundreds to thousands of pounds. One of the Worcester churches to benefit was St Helen's on the High Street with a grant of £125,391.

The 15th-century building occupies the earliest site of Christian worship in Worcester.

Worcester News: BOOST: Claines Church (Parish Church of St John the Baptist) was one of the churches to benefit from the grants BOOST: Claines Church (Parish Church of St John the Baptist) was one of the churches to benefit from the grants (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

St Helen's, which is between High Street and Fish Street, has been undergoing reordering works since October 2022.

Other churches to benefit in or near Worcester include: Worcester Cathedral (£35,418), St Swithun's Church (£9,181), Lifehouse Elim Pentecostal Church (£23,532); Church of St Bartholomew in Grimley (£665), Church of St John the Baptist (£4,329) in Claines.

Worcester News: SUPPORTED: St Peter's Church in Martley SUPPORTED: St Peter's Church in Martley (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

The list also includes Spetchley All Saints (£117); St Martin's Church in London Road (£2,461); St John the Baptist in Suckley (£3,568), St Edburga (£224), St Mary's in Abberley (£2,819), St Bartholomew in Lower Sapey (£968), Great Witley Parish Church (£3,646), St Michael's Church in Little Witley (£247), St Peter's Church in Martley (£1,275), St John the Baptist (£711); Church of St John the Baptist in Grafton Flyford (£2,056); St Mary Magdalene at Croome (£295); St Denys Church in Severn Stoke (£1,005); St John the Baptist £267).

In Pershore the following churches received grants: Pershore Baptist Church (£1,039); Abbey Church of the Holy Cross (£156,079); St Andrew's Parish Centre (£3,383); Holy Redeemer (£600); St Nicholas Church in Peopleton (£1,525); Church of St James the Great (£702); St Mary's Church (£1,373).

In Evesham, the following churches received grants: Evesham St Lawrence (£272); St James Church (£369); St Barbara's Church (£1,778); St Peter's Dumbleton (£793); St Andrew (£2,260); St Mary and St Milburgh Church (£532). The Broadway church Saintbury St Nicholas received a grant of £16,883.

In Droitwich, the beneficiaries were St Mary and All Saints (£30,804); St Mary De Wyche (£421); St Michael's (£19,227); St Peter's and Vincula Church (£7,885); Sacred Heart and St Catherine of Alexandria (£361).

In Malvern, the following churches received grants: Church of St Leonard (£2,851); St James Church Welland (£2,902), Parish Church of St Mary and St Michael (£48,307); Holy Trinity (£1,241).

Churches in Tenbury Wells also received grants - St Michael and All Angels (£39,031) and St Mary, Kyre Wyard (£5,139) 

Since 2010, the Government has returned £346 million to listed churches, synagogues, mosques and temples.

Nearly 5,000 religious buildings in the United Kingdom have received a share of up to £42 million in public funding ahead of this year’s festive celebrations, as the Government continues its support for the conservation of listed places of worship across the country.