A bishop held a reception last week in support of a campaign to get bigger grants for the repair of churches.

The Bishop of St Albans is backing the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Historic Churches Trust’s Jubilee Fundraising Campaign, which has plans to raise £3 million to set up a new Endowment Fund.

The fund will enable the Trust to give bigger grants for the repair of churches of all denominations in the two counties.

The Bishop said: “The work of the Trust is vital to repairing our unique heritage of churches. Beyond the value of the grants it gives, a grant from the trust kick-starts local fundraising, lends credibility to the project and encourages further fundraising support from elsewhere.”

The Trust was established in 1991 to raise and manage funds to help the restoration and repair of churches and chapels in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.

Richard Genochio, Chairman of the Trust added: “The need for costly repairs to our churches is unending. Churches are not only outstandingly beautiful places of Christian worship, but are also repositories of our local history and shared heritage.

“Moreover, they are increasingly serving the whole community in hosting concerts, nursery schools, and even shops and post offices. I hope many people will want to support us in making gifts and by spreading the word.’’