CHURCHES in Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire and Bristol have shared a £76,000 payout from the Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust this month.

The money will help 25 congregations pay for projects ranging from roof repairs to rehanging bells and creating loos and kitchens to make buildings more accessible and functional for the communities they serve.

GHCT grants chairman, Jonathan MacKechnie-Jarvis said: “We’re delighted to be able to contribute towards so many deserving projects right across the region.

“GHCT’s grants can be a lifeline for churches struggling to meet the costs involved with keeping these expensive buildings open and useful to their communities.”

One of the biggest grants, of £8,000, has been awarded to a church in Avonmouth.

A major refurbishment project at St Andrew’s has involved the replacement of the church roofs, the addition of a new entrance foyer and new drains and toilet facilities.

The internal space is currently being completely reordered and refurbished.

The vicar, Revd Dr Andy Murray said: “We are so delighted by this generous grant from GHCT, which is helping towards the redevelopment of the only remaining historic church building in Avonmouth.

"The vision at the heart of this project is to create a wonderful church building, which is not only a vibrant place of worship, but also an open and welcoming place for all the community.”

Plans to create a loo and servery in St Michael’s church in Hill will be helped by a £2750 grant, while Chipping Sodbury Baptist church received £1000 towards installing an air curtain.

St Mary’s church in Berkeley has been awarded £2,500 towards a £20,000 reordering project.

St Mary’s Parochial Church Council member Janet Nash said: “This exciting project will greatly increase the available space for both church-related and community-based events and we’re grateful for the generous contribution from GHCT.”

Since it launched 35 years ago, the Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust has awarded more than £2.2million in grants to help congregations meet the costs of repairs, maintenance and essential improvements to their churches.