Friends of St Michael awarded a £247,843 grant by National Lottery Heritage Fund

In August 2023, The Friends of St Michael’s Church received a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant of £247,843 for an exciting heritage project named The Tower Stories. 

Made possible by money raised by National Lottery players, the project focuses on restoring the pinnacles of the Church and building an important community project named The Tower Stories.  Work on the Tower Stories project will start in September 2023 with building work on the Tower being undertaken January – July 2024.

The Friends bid made clear that The Tower Stories will not only restore the Church pinnacles but also offer new, exciting and practical opportunities relating to the history, heritage and community involvement in this wonderful buildingfor those of all ages in Mere. Thanks to those who supported the Friends in their bid particularly Seeds for Success, Mere School, Mere Museum, The Bishop of Ramsbury, Andrew Murrison MP and Mere Town Council. Also, thanks to those in Mere who kindly supported the original appeal to restore the pinnacles.  All those donations make up the 5% contribution of the Friends to the pinnacles project together with a grant of £3000 by Wiltshire Churches Trust.

Commenting on the award, Felicity Wilson, Chair of the Friends said: “We are thrilled to have received this support thanks to National Lottery players and are confident the Tower Stories project will enhance the lives of all who live in and around Mere as well as Mere Church.  The hard work begins now!”

Stuart McLeod, Director of England – London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Thanks to National Lottery players, we’re delighted to award The Friends of St Michael the Archangel Church in Mere a grant to restore this important Grade I listed church. The project will also engage the community with the building in new ways through the creation of new interpretation and working with local schools and groups. It’s important that heritage resonates with its community and this project is a great example of this.”