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Toilet for church 700 years after it was built

Indy Almroth-WrightSouth of England
Nikki Haswell St Mary, Sturminster Marshall church - large stone church.Nikki Haswell
St Mary, Sturminster Marshall church is to get its first toilet more than 700 years after the church was built

Four churches have been given grants for repairs and improvements, including installing a toilet, adding running water, and restoring stained glass windows.

The buildings in Dorset are among more than 70 across the UK sharing over £800,000 to keep them open and in use.

The toilet is set to go in at St Mary's Church in Sturminster Marshall and at All Saints Church in Wyke Regis the worn stone work holding in the 500 year-old stained-glass windows will be repaired.

St John's Church in Fishpond, where water for refreshments is brought in by jerry can will get running water and a kitchen and St Michael & All Angels in Steeple will have a leaking roof repaired to fix escalating damp problems.

A Shearman Interior of church with pews and large stained glass window on rear wall.A Shearman
Two stained-glass windows that are more than 500 years old will have their stone surrounds repaired All Saints Church in Wyke Regis

Rev Jane Williams, Vicar of St Mary's, said the work would make the church building more sustainable, welcoming and accessible to all "the hope is that our new church environment will be more available and flexible for everyone".

Williams added: "Once the building work is complete our plan is to throw the doors wide open to one-and-all, through all stages of life, literally from the cradle to the grave.

"It's been exciting to hear my congregation plan and participate in our dreaming about what the space will be used for."

Revd Virginia Luckett St John in Fishpond church - small single storey stone church.Revd Virginia Luckett
With no running water, jerry cans are used at St John's church in Fishpond so refreshments can be served

John Mackenzie, vicar on behalf of All Saints Church, said with the windows left unrepaired the church was at risk of having to close some areas on safety grounds.

"This grant allows us to act now, safeguarding these precious windows and ensuring the church remains open, welcoming, and at the heart of village life for generations to come," he added.

"We simply could not have achieved this so quickly without the National Churches Trust's support."

Ben Edwards, the Maintenance Officer for Steeple Church said: "Remote rural churches such as Steeple face the very real threat of closure if they fall into disrepair and thus out of use.

"This project will give our church at least 60 years of life before major re-inspections will likely be required, but combined with a funded maintenance plan, we aim to at least double that timespan."

Ben Edwards Interior roof of church where lots of damp is seen on the walls.Ben Edwards
St Michael & All Angels church's stone roof tiles are failing and during high winds water is leaking in
  • St Mary, Sturminster Marshall will receive a £35,000 grant from the National Churches Trust and a £15,000 Wolfson Fabric Repair Grant from the Wolfson Foundation.
  • All Saints Church in Wyke Regis gets a £19,532 grant from the National Churches Trust.
  • St Michael & All Angels church in Steeple's has been awarded a £5,000 National Churches Trust Grant and a £15,000 grant from the Wolfson Foundation.
  • St John in Fishpond gets a £10,000 grant from the National Churches Trust.

The National Churches Trust gives grants to UK Christian churches that hold regular worship, helping keep buildings repaired, open, and used by the community.

The Wolfson Foundation is a charity that awards grants to support science and medicine, health, education and the arts and humanities.

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