In September 2002, following on from the work to the spire and tower, we applied to English Heritage for a further grant towards the urgent and ongoing work that is necessary to make other parts of our Grade 2 listed building structurally safe and waterproof.
Unfortunately on this occasion we were unsuccessful.
Undeterred we re-applied last September and we have recently been informed that this time our application has been successful and we have been awarded a grant of £17,000 towards the £22,706 needed to determine the extent of the restoration work that will be required.
Subject to these investigations being carried out the Heritage Lottery Fund are then prepared to make an ‘in-principle’ offer of £193,000 towards the £228,508 which is the estimated cost of the necessary repairs.
Whilst this financial help is most welcome, you will see from the above figures that our church here will have to find around £40,000 towards this work.
Even when this work is done it will not make the building fully waterproof - more work to the high roofs will be required in the future.
The mill-owning Heap family donated this beautiful church to the village in 1876 but over the years the ravages of the weather and its prominent but exposed position on top of the hill have taken their toll. 
As Graham was quoted in the Rochdale Observer
‘The English Heritage grant is very welcome enabling us to take another major leap forward towards our ultimate goal of total restoration.‘
‘People with faith and vision built this church and over 125 years later people with faith and vision, with God’s help, will restore it’.
Donations towards this work can be made by emailing:

webmaster@newheychurch.org.uk