Help offered to congregations caring for historic buildings

English Heritage has linked up with the Ripon and Leeds Diocese to create a new support post to help to preserve historic places of worship across West and North Yorkshire. The diocese is responsible for 264 churches, of which 195 are listed and 44 are designated Grade I.

Alice Ullathorne, 32, who recently completed a placement with English Heritage as a Historic Environment Trainee in York, has been appointed to the role. She previously worked as a survey archaeologist for the Peak District National Park.

She said: “Many churches are at a crossroads and need to generate new income to cover bills. That could mean re-ordering the church interior so the building can serve as a community space as well as a place of worship. My job is to add a vital layer of support, helping congregations map out the road ahead, whilst identifying buildings most in need of support.”

Most of her work will be focused on helping preserve a small number of churches in Leeds and North Yorkshire.

They include St Wilfrid’s in Halton, Holy Spirit in Beeston Hill and St Agnes in Burmantofts, which are all in Leeds; and St Margaret’s in Hawes, St Oswald’s in Askrigg and St Michael’s, Well, near Bedale, in North Yorkshire.