The Friends of St Ruan and St Grade have received initial support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for their Saving Grada for the Community project, it was announced today. Made possible thanks to National Lottery players, the project aims to secure the future of this endangered church as a valuable heritage site and community resource.

Development funding of £81,000 has been awarded by the Heritage Fund to help the Friends of St Ruan and St Grade progress their plans to apply for a full grant of £636,000 at a later date.

The Grade I Listed church of St Grada and Holy Cross is an iconic local landmark in a remote and exposed coastal location, constantly battered by high winds and rain. The church building is at huge risk and desperately needs urgent repairs to stay open. It is rich in both tangible and intangible heritage which, without this award from the Heritage Fund, could be lost forever.

The project will safeguard the church’s rich medieval and Victorian heritage and promote accessibility through state-of-the art digital media.  The churchyard and surrounds will be enhanced by the encouragement of species diversity and the creation of sensory spaces. Discrete solar panels will be installed to power the grade 1 listed organ and facilitate digital media access. The project will create fresh opportunities for local community groups, schools, volunteers and visitors to discover, share and celebrate the church and its unique heritage.   Restoring St Grada and Holy Cross is only the beginning. A dedicated co-ordinator will ensure its long-term future by strengthening partnerships, inspiring volunteers and creating a sustainable programme of events and fundraising. 

Mary Keeley, Chair of the ‘Friends’, said: “We are thrilled and excited to have received this initial support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players we can now develop our plans to “Save St Grada for the Community”. Our very small committee of six hardworking local people have worked relentlessly toward this goal. We are grateful and constantly surprised at the generosity of the very small in number but big in heart community of Grade Ruan and the visitors who express their delight in the church of St Grada and Holy Cross. We have raised its profile in Cornwall and beyond and we hope to preserve it for future generations.”

Stuart McLeod, Director of England – London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “We’re delighted to support the Saving Grada for the Community project thanks to National Lottery players. St Grada and Holy Cross is a remarkable historic building which is hugely important for its local community and this development funding marks an important first step in securing its future. Churches like this are often at the heart of their communities and this project will not only safeguard the building’s historic fabric but also protect its heritage, improve accessibility and create new opportunities for people to engage with it. It will help ensure that this special place, located on the most southerly tip of Cornwall, can be enjoyed and valued for generations to come. We look forward to working with the project team as they develop their plans towards a full grant application.”

Visit our website for details of the Open Days we intend to organise throughout the project, and for our ongoing programme of events. (https://www.friendsofstruanandstgrade.co.uk)