We would like to offer our congratulations to St. James Church Over Darwen, who have secured The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s support for vital work to help save and restore the historic church building for the local community.
The funding will support assessment and planning work on the historic building and a programme of engagement that will ensure a role for local people at the heart of deciding the church’s future role in the community.
A place of worship has existed on the site of St. James Church (off Winterton Road) since the 16th century, making it the oldest site of worship in Darwen.
Now St. James Church, Over Darwen has secured £93,400 support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to begin planning to save St. James Church and to create a sustainable future so it can meet the needs of the local community.
Without this funding the heritage of St. James Church would remain unknown by a wider audience and this valuable asset for the local community could be lost forever.
The community around St. James Church is one of the most deprived in the country, and residents in the area face many challenges to access local services, with few facilities on their doorstep.
For six years, the Church of England has been investing in the area through their Strategic Development Fund, which has enabled St. James Church to open a community centre and food club on Ash Grove. This very significant investment from the National Lottery Heritage Fund will enable St. James Church to plan for a a long term future. It will enable St. James to put in place what will be needed to secure the funding to see St. James Church become an amazing resource for local residents, and provide more of what the local community need to live well.
The funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund will pay for detailed assessment of the condition of the building, so that St. James can plan for what is needed to save the building, which is known to have significant dry rot problems.
It will enable plans to be drawn up for how the building might look inside and be used in the future, which will include sustainable energy solutions.
It will also mean local people can have a real say in the future of this important heritage asset, which will widen participation and help people access heritage on their doorstep. Finally, it will provide training for, current and new, trustees and volunteers so that they are better equipped to take St. James Church into the future.
There will be a series of events throughout 2025, which local residents , community groups and community stakeholders will be invited to attend, to have their say into what St. James Church should do, look like and be in the future. Keep an eye out on St. James Church Over Darwen’s Facebook page where all events will be advertised, as well as in the local press. It is important for as many people as possible to get involved and have their say.
This is the first step in an exciting a five year project.
Rev Rebecca Roberts, Priest in Charge of St James Church, Over Darwen said:
“I am thrilled we have received this investment from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Three years ago when I arrived in Darwen I was asked if I saw a future for St James’ building. My answer was a definite “yes!”, because I could see how much the community needed what it is now and what it can become in the future. This is an exciting time for local residents!”
The funding for St James Church comes just weeks after The National Lottery Heritage Fund launched a new Places of Worship initiative
Thanks to National Lottery players, the Heritage Fund has awarded over £1bn to more than 8,200 places of worship projects across the UK since 1994.
