Vital repairs to St Michael and All Angels Church at Brampton Abbotts are set to begin thanks to National Lottery support.

They are the first phase of the community regeneration project, known locally as The Daily Bread, which seeks to provide this important heritage building with a sustainable future. Following the repairs St Michael’s will be converted into an artisan bakery, together with a café and community facilities, and worship will take place a minimum of six times a year.

The long awaited project to repair the church can begin, thanks to a confirmed grant of £215,600 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

The Grade II* listed Norman building sits on the edge of the village in a beautiful hilltop setting, with breathtaking views from the churchyard towards Ross-on-Wye and the Forest of Dean.

The grant from HLF will address the major repairs needed to the tower, the roofs, rainwater goods, stonework, the porch, several windows, internal walls and ceilings, and electrics.

The work should remove St Michael’s from the Heritage at Risk Register, make it wind and watertight, and give it a sustainable future.

St Michael’s is a closed Church, closing some 10 years ago, when the scope of repairs required were beyond the capacity of the local community.

A partnership has formed between the Diocese of Hereford and BAcRG, a local Community Interest Company set up specifically to take forward the preservation and regeneration of the building, to secure its future as a multi-use resource for the village – returning it to the heart of the community.

As part of the funding, made possible by money raised by National Lottery players, there will be opportunities for local people to learn more about the history of the building. The church has been at the centre of village life for 800 years, the Chancel and Nave being 12th Century. The churchyard has a fine collection of Georgian tombs and a medieval churchyard cross, a Schedule 1 Ancient Monument.

Vanessa Harbar, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund West Midlands said “We have been delighted to support St Michael’s Church in Brampton Abbotts to carry out urgent repairs and engage new audiences with this much-loved local landmark. Thank you to the National Lottery players who have made it possible.”

Wendy Coombey, Community Partnership and Funding Officer, Diocese of Hereford, said:

“Projects like Brampton Abbotts give new life and hope for some of our most ancient churches, and there is no reason why the learning from this project couldn’t be transferred to an open church. As a Diocese, we are delighted to support it both now and in the future. This project gives an exciting future to a building and will engage many people who live in and around the church and also people who visit the area.”

Sam Hine, Project Manager, Brampton Abbotts Church Regeneration Group said, “We are so pleased that the funding for the repairs stage of The Daily Bread project is now confirmed. Local people have been working hard for many years to develop a viable and sustainable business plan for the building and the generous support of the Heritage Lottery Fund will enable us to finally get the project on its way.”