A church clock tower, erected as a World War One war memorial, will be restored after winning a grant this week.
All Saints’ Church, Ammanford, is one of three churches in Wales to benefit from the Heritage Lottery Fund’s latest grants.
The grade II listed building will receive £117,000 to restore its clock tower which was added to the church in 1926 in memory of those who died in the war.
A church on the pilgrimage trail to St David’s Cathedral has also been awarded a grant. Mathry Church, near Haverfordwest, will receive £87,000 to pay for urgent repairs to the nave.
Also, a Medieval church in North Wales will benefit. St Michael’s Parish church in Abergele, another grade II listed building, has been awarded £71,000 to stabilise its West Tower.
Welcoming the grants, Alex Glanville, head of property services for the Church in Wales, said, “Our churches are there for the whole community to treasure, not just those who worship in them regularly. They are nationally important assets cared for by local people. Grants like this are a real boost to our dedicated parishioners who work tirelessly all the year round to look after them and ensure they can be enjoyed now and by future generations.”
Jennifer Stewart, Head of HLF Wales, said, “Places of worship are among the UK’s most historic buildings, with fascinating stories behind them. This money will pay for urgent repairs, whilst also helping to tell the stories of these special places to visitors. As a result the buildings themselves will be more used by the whole community, and properly cared for into the future.”
