£3.8m secured for repairs to two historic Cumbrian churches

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 16 Oct, 13:33 · Archive

More than £3.8 million has been secured for conservation work at Kendal Parish Church and St John's Church in Workington.

More than £3.8 million has been secured for urgent conservation work at two historic Cumbrian churches. Kendal Parish Church, Grade I-listed, has been awarded £3.1 million, whilst Grade II*-listed St John's Church in Workington has received £708,310. The projects are being led by Cartmel-based John Coward Architects and are scheduled to start in 2026 and 2027.

At St John's Church in Workington, the funding comes from the UK Government's Places of Worship Renewal Fund, delivered by Historic England. The money will allow long-planned repairs to the building's stone tower to proceed after years of deterioration and safety concerns. Built between 1821 and 1823 and designed by Thomas Hardwick, the tower has suffered damage from coastal weather, with water entering the masonry causing iron cramps to corrode and expand, which fractures the stone.

Mike Darwell, director at John Coward Architects, said the practice has been involved with both buildings for years, understanding the problems and developing repairs whilst funding was unavailable. He described seeing both projects reach the point where substantial conservation work can proceed as 'hugely rewarding', and noted that the funding arrived at a critical moment for Workington's church, as scaffolding could not be removed without repair work first being carried out.

How it is being reported

• £3.8m secured for repairs at two historic Cumbrian churches by Cartmel architectsMore than £3.8m will fund urgent conservation at Kendal Parish Church and Workington’s St John’s Church, with projects starting in 2026 and 2027 in Cumbria.Westmorland Gazette · 16 Oct, 12:56
• £3.8m secured for repairs at two historic Cumbrian churches by Cartmel architectsMore than £3.8m will fund urgent conservation at Kendal Parish Church and Workington’s St John’s Church, with projects starting in 2026 and 2027 in Cumbria.NW Evening Mail · 16 Oct, 12:56

In this story: Kendal Parish Church · St John's Church · John Coward Architects · Historic England · Mike Darwell · Workington · Cumbria

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