A VILLAGE church is preparing to share its history after securing a major lottery grant.
All Saints Church in Ladbroke has been awarded a £339,000 National Lottery Heritage Fund grant for heritage project ‘All Saints for All Generations’.
Thanks to the cash repairs to the 14th century church and a three year programme to share Ladbroke’s heritage will start this year.
The project, made possible by the lottery cash and other donations, will stabilise the tower, walls and windows, conserving it for future generations.
With different opportunities to be involved in activities, either as volunteers or
participants, people will have the chance to discover more about the history of Ladbroke and some of the colourful characters in its past.
Unusually for a church project, the thrust of its educational programme will be to inspire children, with roll out of the resources to other churches.
When the village of Ladbroke was listed in the Domesday Book it had two priests and a population of around 250. Today there are still less than 300 people living in the parish and Christians still worship at the Grade 1-listed church church.
It has an interior designed by the famous Victorian architect, Sir George Gilbert Scott, better known for the front of St Pancras Station in London.
Ladbroke is a place steeped in history, from a hoard of long buried Roman coins to an infamous owner in the 16th century, Robert Catesby, ringleader of the Gunpowder plot.
It also housed prisoners of war in both world wars and is soon set to see the controversial HS2 rail line come through the parish.
Project leader Jackie West said: “We are thrilled to have received this further support thanks to National Lottery players.
“Critical though the repairs are, it’s the activities that excite us. Many people do not venture into
churches, thinking they are not for me, but this project will show that our church and our heritage are multi-faceted and everyone is welcome to enjoy and be inspired by them.”
Assistant minister Rev Ann Mulley said: “I’m absolutely delighted that Ladbroke Church have received this support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
“This wonderful building and important part of our national heritage has been a place of sanctuary and the centre of community and of prayer for the village for many thousands of people over the centuries. It’s a great joy that this special place can continue to inspire people in the years to come and to speak of God’s love and peace and grace to all”.
Visit www.ladbrokechurch.org.uk for further details.
