Heritage Fund Success
All Saints Church North Street, York, awarded £531,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund towards the Restoration and Preservation of its Stained Glass
All Saints North Street, York, has received this major grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for the restoration and preservation of its world famous medieval stained glass, it was announced today. Made possible by National Lottery players, the project aims to restore the stained glass where necessary, and to protect it by using external isothermal glazing.
The project aims to carry out £773,000 essential conservation work on the stained glass windows and to deliver a programme of volunteering, learning and community engagement.
All Saints North Street is a Grade I listed medieval church with foundations before the Norman Conquest, and visible fabric dating from the 12th to the 16th centuries with subsequent restorations in the 19th and 20th. It is particularly notable because of its exceptional collection of stained glass. The glass dates from the second quarter of the 14th century through to the first half of the 15th century. This is the finest medieval glass in York outside York Minster. English Heritage has assessed the collection of stained glass windows in All Saints as of national importance. It is of great quality and exceptional iconographical interest, with windows depicting rare and in one instance (The ‘Pricke of Conscience’ window) a unique subject in stained glass. It is also one of the most extensive parish church collections in the country to have survived the reformation. Visitors come from all over the UK and abroad to see the glass.
It has a high historical value because of the insight it offers into the devotional lives of the original donors and centuries of worshippers. The church itself and the stained glass contribute to the important communal role that the church plays as a long-standing place of worship at the centre of the city.
Commenting on the award
David Titchener from the church’s Steering Group said, “We are all delighted to be able to secure our heritage onto future generations.”
Dr Robert Richards, the Church’s Heritage Officer said, “It is a real privilege to be guardians of this amazing treasure.”
Revd. John Hanks, the Assistant Curate (Parish Deacon) said, “We are all delighted to have received this great news”
Bishop Glyn Webster said, “It is a real delight to see this restoration programme moving forward after so many years in the planning”
David Renwick, Director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage
Fund, said, “Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, it’s great news that we are able to fund the restoration programme of the incredibly significant stained glass windows of All Saints, North Street. Through this work, we are looking forward to seeing more visitors being able to connect with the stories behind the windows, as well as connecting their heritage to that of the wider community of the city. We are also heartened that the programme will create a number of volunteering and training opportunities, affording those who take part to interact with like-minded heritage lovers and learn new skills that can be preserved for our sector.”