Binsted parishioners ‘jubilant’ after record £24k grant for St Mary’s

A record-breaking £24,000 grant will help fund an ambitious programme of repairs and restoration at the 12th-century Church of St Mary in the village of Binsted, near Arundel in West Sussex.

The grant, awarded by the Sussex Historic Churches Trust, is the largest single grant ever made by the Trust to a parish church and reflects the scale and urgency of the work facing the Grade II* listed building.

Among the most pressing concerns are repairs to the church’s 13th-century porch, which has suffered both severe weather damage and vandalism, together with restoration work to a leaking west window.

Churchwarden Carolyn Coles said: “The most pressing problem is the repair of the porch. Following the vandalism episode, both the glazing and the oak surround need to be tackled at the same time. Additional weathered areas also need to be repaired with suitable oak. The oak has been exposed to extreme weather conditions over many years.”

The west window also requires extensive repointing and plaster repairs, both internally and externally, after prolonged water ingress into the church. The church’s consulting architect has additionally recommended replacing the polycarbonate coverings that have protected the windows for more than 40 years with metal grilles.

Carolyn added: “Once this work is underway, the interior walls will also require redecoration. Sadly, over the years all sorts of substances have been used, so the plasterwork needs repairing before several coats of limewash can be applied.”

St Mary’s is also home to several rare fragments of Romanesque font and medieval wall paintings dating back almost 900 years. These include depictions of a crowned female figure and a three-branched tree. Protection of the paintings during the restoration programme is a key priority.

Carolyn, who is overseeing the project alongside two other members of the Parochial Church Council, said: “The jubilation experienced by us all is immense. It is difficult to find adequate words to convey our feelings of gratitude and amazement when we received the generous offer of assistance from Sussex Historic Churches Trust.”

The Sussex Historic Churches Trust awarded a total of £40,000 in grants during its latest funding round in April, including £5,000 to St Catherine of Siena Church to help repair a leaking roof and £4,000 to St Mark’s church at Hadlow Down for repairs to exterior stonework.

Across Sussex, grants from the Trust play a vital role in helping churches carry out essential conservation and repair work. In many cases, the funding proves to be the crucial factor in allowing restoration projects to proceed.

To read more about the April grants and earlier church success stories, please visit the Trust’s news page.

The next Trust meeting will take place on 8 September. Please note that applications must be submitted at least two weeks before the meeting date.

Start planning your Ride + Stride fundraiser

Churches across Sussex are already preparing for the Trust’s most important annual fundraising event. Ride + Stride, which takes place on Saturday 12 September, plays a crucial role in enabling the Trust to continue supporting historic churches throughout the county.

Every church is encouraged to take part, and getting involved is simple. Funds raised through Ride + Stride are shared equally between the participating church and the Trust.

If you are planning something special for this year’s event, do let us know via our Contact Page.

How to amend your Ride + Stride details

All churches are encouraged to check and update their Ride + Stride opening information and visitor facilities on the Ride + Stride information page, where full instructions for editing details can be found.

Together, through practical support and shared enthusiasm, we can help ensure Sussex’s historic churches continue to thrive for generations to come.