A historic church will receive a much-needed new ventilation system and makeover thanks to a £5,000 grant.

St Stephen's Church, in New Hutton, South Cumbria, has struggled with damp and condensation issues for years.

This has been made worse by reduced usage of the church, resulting in less frequent heating and ventilation.

The church's interior has been regularly redecorated in an effort to prevent damage from the condensation, but the recurring problems have led to an increase in the cost and time needed to keep it in a usable condition.

To find a permanent solution, St Stephen's Church has been seeking to install a new ventilation system in its north windows.

This system will allow air to circulate around the building, reducing the condensation build-up.

The grant from the community fund linked to OnPath Energy's Armistead Wind Farm will enable the church to carry out the necessary installation work over the summer.

Once the church has dried out, a full redecoration will take place, further protecting the building from the elements.

Michael Burke, treasurer at St Stephen's Church, said: "The wind can really whip in off Morecambe Bay into the western side of the church building and the impact that this has is sadly all too visible, especially with it being occupied and heated less frequently than used to be the case.

"We do our best to keep the building’s fabric in the best possible condition, but it’s been a never-ending battle against the damp in recent years and the problems with condensation were never going to be resolved without substantial action.

"Adding this ventilation system will stabilise the situation by helping to stop water gathering in places where it can cause damage, and it will also make a big difference to the building’s appearance for our parishioners and other visitors.

"There’s simply no way that we could have afforded to get this work done without the funding we’ve had from OnPath Energy and we’re extremely grateful for their generous support in safeguarding our much-loved church’s future viability."

Robin Winstanley, sustainability and community director at OnPath Energy, said: "Churches like St Stephen's play a crucial role in providing a focal point for dispersed rural communities, and the work of the volunteers that look after them is equally important.

"The ventilation system that’s being installed will hopefully make a substantial difference to the building’s condition and we’re very glad that revenues generated by the Armistead Wind Farm are enabling this work to be carried."
Built in the late 1820s, St Stephen's Church is a Grade II listed building and is named on the National Heritage List for England.

Groups or projects interested in applying to the Armistead Wind Farm's Community Fund should contact the fund manager via apply@onpathcommunityfund.co.uk or phone 0191 378 6342 to confirm their eligibility.