St Mary’s in the Marketplace – Stockport’s oldest church and a landmark of national significance – is set for a new lease of life thanks to major support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The Grade I listed building, which has stood at the heart of the town for centuries, has secured a £343,234 development grant that could lead to an investment of up to £2.5 million. The project will safeguard St Mary’s for generations to come, transforming it into a vibrant community and cultural destination.
Stockport Council has welcomed the announcement, recognising the important role St Mary’s plays at the heart of the town and in its wider regeneration story.
This vital funding will help carry out urgent repairs and improvements to the church, which is currently on Historic England’s ‘At Risk’ Register. The project will make St Mary’s more welcoming, accessible, and sustainable, while preserving its unique history and heritage.
Residents and visitors can look forward to a programme of heritage activities, community events, and volunteering opportunities. Plans include tower tours, heritage escape rooms, self-guided tours, live gigs, food festivals, and a refreshed social café, opening St Mary’s doors wider than ever before.
Cllr Micheala Meikle, Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration, said:
“St Mary’s is one of Stockport’s most important historic landmarks and a much-loved part of our town centre. The council is pleased they have received support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and it will help ensure the church remains a welcoming place for the community.
“Alongside the council’s wider investment in the town centre, including the ongoing £7 million regeneration of the Underbanks, this funding underlines our commitment to making Stockport an even better place to live, work, and visit. We’re proud to support the project and look forward to seeing the church thrive for generations to come.”
Revd Chris Blunt, Rector of Stockport and Brinnington and minister at St Mary’s, said:
“For almost a thousand years, St Mary’s has been a place of Christian worship and service at the heart of Stockport. This generous grant secures the future of the building and helps us open it even more widely to our town today. We pray it will remain a place where people encounter God’s presence, discover the richness of our shared history, and find a warm welcome in the heart of the town. We look forward to inviting local people to be part of this journey and to help shape St Mary’s future together.”
Peter Breeden, Project Lead for St Mary’s development plans, added:
“This grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund enables us to safeguard one of Stockport’s most significant historic buildings and to invite more people to connect with its story. Through careful conservation, new interpretation, and creative heritage experiences, we want St Mary’s to remain accessible, relevant and inspiring for generations to come.”
This project has been made possible thanks to National Lottery players, whose support has funded vital heritage projects across Stockport in recent years, including the ongoing £7 million regeneration of the Underbanks.
The funding will also help St Mary’s tackle environmental challenges, reducing energy use and cutting the church’s carbon footprint, showing that even Stockport’s oldest buildings can lead the way to a greener, more sustainable future.
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