11 March 2022
All Saints’ Church, in Brightlingsea, is soon to start work on an exciting project which will bring the church’s history and heritage alive.
The ‘Tower of Strength’ project will see repairs to the 13th century church building, and a new-build extension to provide an equal-access toilet and a kitchenette.
The repairs and new facilities will enable the church to host a wide-ranging activity programme to share the living heritage of All Saints’ church with visitors. There will be a special focus on the maritime history connected to the church, the natural environment in the churchyard, as well as opportunities for art, craft and music events. Volunteers will have the opportunity to learn new skills and the capital works programme offers employment prospects.
Children will have the chance to take part in bat-watching or star-gazing, and once repairs have been carried out to the Tudor Tower, visitors will be able to retrace the steps of the boy who used to light a beacon on top of the Tower to guide sailors safely back to Brightlingsea on stormy nights.
Elizabeth Foss Smith, part of the project team at All Saints, said:
The ‘Tower of Strength’ project will allow us to unlock the door to the past and take us to the future. We’ve received great support from across the town and local residents have been contributing ideas for events and activities. We look forward to when the works are completed, and we are able to welcome everyone so they can learn more about the wonderful history and heritage of All Saints’”.
The project has been made possible thanks to local fundraising efforts and several successful grant applications totalling awards of over £500,000, including funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Find out more at www.allsaintswithstjamesb-sea.co.uk
