The Parish of Oswaldtwistle has announced it has received a £250,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to save the heritage asset of Immanuel Church and secure it for the future use of the community.

Immanuel Church - part of The Parish of Oswaldtwistle - has been awarded the grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to repair and renovate the church roof.

Immanuel Church is one of the oldest churches in Oswaldtwistle, built between 1836 and 1837. It is a beautiful Grade 2 listed building and without this funding from the Heritage Fund the history it holds and the community space it offers for all could be lost forever.

This project will enable extensive conservation work to take place to the church roof. The preservation of this heritage will enable continuous use of the building for both worship and for the community it serves.

The building is well utilised in a variety of different ways which include weddings, baptisms and funerals, hosting local and international visitors, as well as community organisations who need space to gather. It is also a vital and vibrant part of the community which is used with great pride for moments of national celebration.

This funding will ensure that volunteers, local groups and schools will be able to take part in the project through events and training opportunities, allowing even more people to understand part of the heritage of this town.

Wendy Hope, Churchwarden from The Parish of Oswaldtwistle, said: “We are thrilled to have received this support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players we can restore and preserve the church for generations to come.”

On hearing news of the grant, Archdeacon of Blackburn, The Venerable Jane Atkinson, added: “I’m delighted to see this investment in Immanuel Church, a place that sits right at the heart of its community. This funding will help to ensure the building can continue to be a space of welcome, worship and connection for generations to come. I’m excited to see how it enables even more people to be part of its story in the future as the church continues to share the good news of Jesus Christ.”