St Edmund’s Church Removed from Historic England’s ‘At Risk’ Register Following Restoration

St Edmund’s Church in Kessingland, Suffolk, a structure dating back 500 years, has been taken off Historic England’s at risk register following the completion of a £300,000 repair initiative. The campaign to raise funds for replacing the church’s thatched roof commenced in 2018. Historic England reported that this church is among 14 locations in the region that have been delisted this year, although 29 new sites were incorporated into the register in 2024. The Grade I listed edifice, situated close to Lowestoft, remained inaccessible for 15 months while repairs were underway, before its reopening in March. Helena Lord and Ian Myhill, who spearheaded the five-year fundraising drive, expressed their pleasure upon learning of the building’s removal from the at risk register. Ms Lord stated: “The new roof is an amazing sight, in comparison to how it was, and it’s now a joy to look at and we have no leaks on the inside. “We are extremely pleased we have achieved our goal and I think we can say that we have left this church in a really good state of repair for the future and for the generations to come into this village.”We are eternally grateful to Historic England for putting us on the at risk register because that really helped us getting the funds we needed from National Lottery Heritage. It wasn’t very nice to go on the at risk register but it was what we needed to do at the time.” Mr Myhill commented: “The amount of help we’ve had from the community has been phenomenal and I think one of the pleasures of the whole project has been the wonderful involvement of local school children.”We also now have information boards in the south porch which show the history of the church and the village and that history deserves to be told.” The yearly register identifies historical locations facing potential loss due to neglect, deterioration, or construction. Heritage Minister, Sir Chris Bryant, remarked: “The UK has an abundance of heritage sites across the country that attract tourists and provide jobs in local communities. Many of these are in desperate need of support.”“The Heritage at Risk Register plays a vital role in our ongoing mission to protect and preserve our rich heritage across the country. Many beloved sites have been removed from the list this year and I hope that more will be saved thanks to their inclusion this year.” Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England, stated: “It’s inspirational to see how we can harness the power of our heritage to benefit local people across the East of England. “Together, we can save our places and find new ways to enjoy the heritage that people value so much.” For updates on Suffolk news, access BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.