TOP Church in Dudley has been awarded over £100,000 of National Lottery support to help conserve the church's historical character.

The Church of St Thomas and St Luke, affectionately known as Top Church, has received £106,000 of initial National Lottery support to help the building remain fit for purpose.

The funding will help to conserve the wall monuments and font and preserve the historic painted window at the eastern end of the church.

The Revd James Treasure, Vicar of Top Church, said: “Top Church is built on foundations dating back to at least 1180 and the church has historically been a place of pilgrimage. In the 18th and 19th centuries, it helped provide safe drinking water to the town and has often played a key role in Dudley’s history. We’re so grateful for all the funding we’ve received, which will allow us to continue to bring the Good News of Jesus to more people in our community, and enable Top Church to be a witness to our faith for many more years to come.”

Kate Andrew, Church Buildings Project Manager, continued: “We’re delighted that we’ve received this support. The award will help us plan ways to share the stories of Top Church with more people and to deliver much needed conservation work. We also want to find out more about the crypt, built as a pilgrimage shrine to the medieval saint, St Thomas a Beckett and plan engaging and creative ways to make this space more accessible in future.”

The funding will add to a grant already received from the Church Commissioners of the Church of England, which will see Top Church becoming one of two ‘resourcing churches’ in the Diocese of Worcester. As a resourcing church, Top Church is receiving significant investment to ensure the building is fit for purpose so the congregation can continue to serve the community and help more people find faith.

A full National Lottery grant will be applied for at a later date.