National Churches Trust awards a £7,750 Gateway Grant for project development to St. Paul’s church.

THE nationally important and iconic church of St. Paul’s, Harlow Town Centre has been awarded a grant by National Churches Trust’s that will fund half the cost of surveys of the building to determine the extent and estimated cost of essential refurbishment works thereby enabling the church to seek larger grants for the refurbishment of the church.

St. Paul’s, located right in the town centre, plays an important role in the community of Harlow but to achieve its full potential and to protect its heritage value the church needs refurbishment and development. The design and materials used when it was built were such that now, sixty years later, the concrete parts of the building require repairs, the building services are outdated, and the building needs a refresh. The development of other buildings around the church has conspired to make the blank rear of the building the side most viewed by the public. The planned development will present a new open and welcoming aspect of the church to the public.

Survey work will be carried out over the summer when occasionally hydraulic platforms might be seen around the church.

Team Rector of St. Paul’s Revd Martin Harris said, “This grant is excellent news that enables us to move a step forward with our exciting plans for St. Paul’s as we seek to be a vibrant community hub rooted in the love of God at the heart of Harlow town centre.”