St. Mary’s Totnes has been named as one of the recipients of the government’s
Culture Recovery Fund. The church has been awarded £83,100 that will be used
in a variety of ways on behalf of the building’s proposed rehabilitation project.
The Culture Recovery Fund targeted more than 450 heritage organisations in
what is the first wave of a £1.57bn government fund to help them through the
coronavirus pandemic. The fund is aimed at securing the future of museums,
galleries and heritage sites.
"We are delighted to receive this grant which will enable us to keep the church
open safely as a heritage site and place of prayer over the next six months of this
crisis,” said Rev’d Jim Barlow, Team Rector.
“It will also enable us to offer a space for local artists and performers to live
stream from, out to the wider community, and for St Mary's to resume the
community consultation on its redevelopment project, to secure the building's
long-term future,” he said.
The announcement of the award was made at an informal meeting with MP
Anthony Magnall, who promised to do all that he could to continue the fundraising
effort at St. Mary’s.
Rev’d Jim Barlow explained that the £83,000 will be used for a variety of
purposes, including 1) helping weather the next six months and to keep the
building open as much and as safely as possible; 2) to be able to continue the
community consultation and fundraising in relation to the development bid and 3)
to enable live streaming of high quality audio and visual content from St Marys.
In announcing the overall funding for the Recovery Fund, Culture Secretary
Oliver Dowden said; “As a nation it is essential that we preserve our heritage and
celebrate and learn from our past. This massive support package will protect our
shared heritage for future generations, save jobs and help us prepare for a
cultural bounce back post covid.”
Along with Rev’d Jim Barlow and MP Magnall, others who attended Friday’s
announcement were: John Birch, Emily “Mop” Price, Georgina Allen and John
Anderson from the St. Mary’s Heritage Trust and the churchwardens, Martin
Harvey and Julian Hall.
Pictured below are MP Anthony Mangnall, Emily "Mop" Price, Georgina Allen,
John Anderston, and Rev'd Jim Barlow.