More than £260,000 was distributed by the Church of England last year to support conservation of historic items and works of art in parish churches, from stained glass and organs to curtains, a carpet and an 18th century Bible famous for its misprints.
All Saints Slingsby, in York Archdeaconry, received a Pilgrim Trust supported grant for the refurbishment of its 19th century clock, (pictured, above) described as the ‘heartbeat’ of the village.
The clock was made in 1838 by James Harrison, a great, great nephew of John ‘Longtitude’ Harrison whose clocks revolutionised navigation at sea.
Kate Giles, Secretary of All Saints Parochial Church Council, (PCC) said: “When the clock stopped temporarily I received lots of messages from our local community asking what was happening and saying that it was part of their soundscape – and they missed it.
“Many of the people who sign Slingsby’s visitors book describe its steady ticking as the ‘heartbeat’ of the church and of the village.
“We are so grateful for this grant which will help us to ensure Slingsby’s clock keeps time for generations to come.”
Across the country, a total of £262,980 was awarded in 2024 to 124 projects in 33 dioceses, including wall paintings, monuments, church bells and even medieval graffiti.
The conservation grants programme is administered by the Church of England’s Cathedral and church buildings department from funds provided by The Pilgrim Trust, The Radcliffe Trust, the Anglican Parish Churches Fund, The Oswald Allen Fund, the Gunnis Fund and the Church of England Net Zero Fund.
