All Saints’ Brandsby awarded HLF Grant

All Saints’ Brandsby has been awarded a grant from the Heritage Lottery fund to help repair their distinctive cupola. The grant for the development phase is £11,542, and the grant for the delivery phase t is £41,830, making a grand total of £53,372

All Saints’ Brandsby has an unusual cupola, which is in urgent need of restoration as it has suffered extensive erosion of the stonework. The wrought iron cramps which were used to secure the dome stonework have subsequently rusted and expanded, forcing the stones apart. The stonework of the octagonal arcade and the Doric columns is starting to split and the leaded Cupola floor is also in need of replacement.

The church building was completed in 1770 at the instigation of Francis Cholmeley of Brandsby Hall. He was also the benefactor apart from £45 raised by the parish at the time. The architect was Thomas Atkinson. All Saints’ church is both unusual and distinguished with its four columns, supporting a groin vault and in turn a magnificent cupola - a fine example of contemporary Georgian style.

The church was restored by Temple Moor in 1905 when he added a new Pulpit and Lectern and again In 1913 by H Rutherford who added the Baptistry, Porch and Vestry at the West end. There are a number of good quality stained glass windows, of particular merit is the memorial window in the baptistry by Kempe, the renowned Victorian ecclesiastical artist. The church is a grade II* listed building.

To find out more about the project, or to help the church raise the final funds needed to complete the project, visit www.brandsbychurch.co.uk