20/06/12

By Andrew Holt

Trafalgar Square’s historic St Martin-in-the-Fields has been awarded £1 million through the Heritage Lottery Fund’s (HLF) Catalyst Endowment programme.

Designed by architect James Gibbs and opened in 1726, St Martin-in-the-Fields completed a £36m Renewal Project in 2008 that restored the church and created inspirational new spaces beneath its surface that include a chapel, community meeting places, care for homeless people, exhibitions, shop and the award winning Café in the Crypt.

This grant will enable the Church’s Trust to widen its income streams and access private philanthropic giving in order to help build future financial resilience for this remarkable Grade I Listed building.

The Revd Dr Sam Wells, vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields, said: “St Martin-in-the-Fields is a place where beautiful architecture and heritage meet a vibrant, working church, dedicated in service to the community around it.

"With many hundreds of thousands of people visiting St Martin’s each year, it is vital we keep our buildings in excellent condition. The funding we will receive from this award will go a long way to help us achieve this.

“Each generation has a duty to steward these buildings through into the future. I am delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has recognised the importance of St Martin’s to the nation’s heritage in this way. The grant will ensure the church will continue to inspire and serve people for all time.”

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