St Mary's Church in Warwick is set to receive a share of a £437,000 pot from the National Churches Trust.

The town centre church will be given a £20,000 National Churches Trust Cornerstone Grant to help fund the urgent repairs needed on its tower.

A further £10,000 has also been secured through a Wolfson Fabric Repair Grant from the Wolfson Foundation on the recommendation of the National Churches Trust. 

St Mary's is trying to raise £1.4million through its Campaign 2023 with the money raised used for repointing, pointing, repairing and replacing the eroded stonework in time for the church's 900th anniversary next year.

Broadcaster and journalist Huw Edwards, vice president of the national churches trust, said: "I'm delighted that St Mary's is being helped with funding for urgent tower repairs. This will safeguard unique local heritage and keep the church open and in use for the benefit of local people."

"Whether seeking quiet reflection, access to community services or a place to worship, the National Churches Trust helps hundreds of churches each year and with the support of local people keeps them thriving today, and tomorrow." 

The £437,000 pot will be split across 41 UK churches to help them stay open. In 2021 the National Churches Trust made 304 awards to churches worth £5.2 million. 

Paul Ramsbottom, chief executive of the Wolfson Foundation said: "As well as being places of worship and buildings of beauty, churches sit at the heart of the community. In many ways they stand between the past and present.

"We are thrilled to continue our partnership with the National Churches Trust to support the preservation of these significant, much-loved historic buildings across the UK." 

St Mary's, which was founded on its present site in 1123 byRoger de Newburgh, is one of the UK's oldest major churches. 

It has already received £100,000 towards the project from Warwick District Council and Dame Judi Dench has also backed the campaign.

John Luxton who is the churchwarden overseeing the project on behalf of the PCC, said: "We are thrilled to have the support of the National Churches Trust and the Wolfson Foundation.

"Their generosity helpsustowards securing the £1.4 million total we need in order to repair and restore the tower for future generations.

"St Mary's tower is a vital link to our heritage and an iconic part of the town's skyline.

"This grant will help us make the tower safe again and encourage more people to visit Warwick's church treasures."

For more information on the National Churches Trust visit www.nationalchurchestrust.org