Sturry Church in Kent dates all the way back to the 11th Century. Due to planned housing development in the Parish, it’s anticipated that the congregation will increase significantly – with this in mind, the church community is working hard to improve their facilities. The building has suffered from an ineffective and wasteful heating system which has deterred the community from using the building in the winter and has contributed to some of the building’s present state of disrepair.
In December 2017, Valencia Communities Fund awarded the church £38,025 to replace their heating system with something more efficient and warm. Achieving the award and working with Valencia Communities Fund has lifted the spirits of the church community and has made the applicants more outward-looking. It has stimulated other initiatives, such as working with offenders on Community Payback, and has given them the confidence to tackle a major preservation project.
