THE continued restoration work at St Mary’s Priory Church has been given a further boost with the news that the historic church is among the largest receipts of funds from the Listed Places of Worship Roof Repair Grant in Wales.

Welcoming the news Canon Mark Soady, Vicar said, “This grant will enable us to ensure that the roof of the Lewis Chapel is put back in sound order. This Chapel is a key part of the Priory Church housing as it does the new Jesse Window (to be dedicated on Thursday in the presence of HRH The Prince of Wales) and the tomb of Dr David Lewis, First Principal of Jesus College, Oxford.

“This funding enables us to complete another phase in our ongoing restoration and development of this Chapel.

“I am grateful to our Architects Arnold & Bartosch for their help in securing this funding, as well as to the home team headed up by our Treasurer Robin Smith.”

This government-sponsored fund was set up to help make the UK’s listed places of worship weathertight, safe and open for use. It is administered by the National Heritage Memorial Fund on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.