Published: 16 June 2021
More than 50 churches and Christian charities have benefitted from a total of £160,000 in Benefact Trust's latest round of grants.
Some of the inspiring projects to receive this welcome boost include the restoration of an iconic landmark and a life-changing ice-cream café!
Read on to find out more…
Salford Diocesan Trustees, Salford, Greater Manchester
St John’s Church in Rochdale has been immersed in its local community for nearly 200 years. Styled on the Byzantine Hagia Sofia in Istanbul, it’s an iconic landmark in a vibrant and diverse community.
Within the church, encompassing the entire *apsed sanctuary, the floor to ceiling mosaic on the theme of ‘Eternal Life’ is considered possibly the best example of the English artist, Eric Newton’s work.
The vision of Salford Diocesan Trustees is to restore the ‘at risk’ church to its former glory and share its rich heritage with the wider community. An Benefact Trust grant of £20,000 will support vital repairs to the church and mosaics.
Just-Ice Poynton, Stockport, Cheshire
A £3,000 grant from Benefact Trust will help Just-Ice to establish an ice cream cafe/coffee shop and mobile ice cream service in the community of Poynton. This will provide employment, education and training to survivors of modern slavery and trafficking, with a view to helping them become independent and meet their own needs, transforming extremely vulnerable lives and giving them the opportunity to flourish and learn new skills.
The café will also be a Christian-run community hub, welcoming and connecting the community.
All Saints Church, Epping Upland, Essex
All Saints Church is a small rural church with a lively and growing congregation. In order to support more young families, and with the help of £750 from Benefact Trust, the church is looking to create an attractive, safe and well equipped space for babies and children to use during services and Sunday School. This will include toys, crafts, new equipment, and child-friendly furniture.
RCCG Jubilee Christian Centre, Wolverhampton, West Midlands
A £4,500 grant from Benefact Trust is supporting the renovation of an old commercial property into a new place of worship and community centre for RCCG Jubilee Christian Centre.
The renovation work will include interior architectural design, rewiring and installation of electrical equipment, fitting new toilets, and general redecoration.
*In Byzantine architecture, the term apse is applied to a semi-circular or polygonal area of the main building where the altar is.
