Warmer welcome at South Lakeland church thanks to new pew heaters

St Peter’s Church in Mansergh near Kirkby Lonsdale had been looking to replace a series of old pew heaters to help ensure the 19th century building remained a comfortable place for people to spend time in the colder parts of the year.

The District Church Committee, which is responsible for managing the upkeep of the church, applied to the community benefits fund linked to OnPath Energy’s nearby Armistead Wind Farm for support for the project, which would be added to the money available from its own resources.

And now, a £1,000 grant from the fund, which provides grants to help make a positive, long-term difference to voluntary groups, environmental projects and community facilities in the area, has allowed the project to move forward.

Eight new, large pew heaters have now been installed which will keep worshippers warm while they’re attending church services.

It’s the second recent grant that St Peter’s has received from the Armistead Wind Farm community fund, with a £6,996 grant given last year enabling the committee to have the inclined 40m concrete path up to the church door repaired in order to ensure the building remained accessible to older worshippers and those with mobility problems.

Built in 1874, the Grade II listed St Peter’s Church sits in one of eight parishes across South Lakeland which together form the Rainbow Parish Community.

A community hall which was formerly the village schoolroom sits alongside the church and is used for a wide range of church and community events and activities.

Yvette Burchnall, district church committee member at St Peter’s, says: “The pew heaters are designed to keep the people sitting close to each one warm, rather than to heat the building as a whole.

“It’s a practical way of making it more comfortable for parishioners who might be sitting in them for some time, and more manageable for some of the older members of our congregation to attend our services.

“We replaced some antiquated heaters a few years ago, but only had the money then to bring in around half of the new ones that we needed, meaning that not everyone was able to get the benefit of them, and we’ve been keen to fill in the gaps ever since.

“We’re constantly trying to raise money for different projects within the church, and with an old building like St Peter’s, there are always priority repairs and upgrades to which we need to allocate our limited resources.

“OnPath Energy’s continuing support for the church is especially important and very welcome, and the difference that the new pew heaters have made to the environment we can offer is very clear.”

Other local beneficiaries from the Armistead Wind Farm community fund include Kirkby Lonsdale RUFC, New Hutton Institute, Mansergh Parish Meeting, Old Hutton Public Hall and the Bendrigg Trust.

Robin Winstanley, sustainability and community director at OnPath Energy (formerly Banks Renewables), adds: “The space for contemplation that St Peter’s provides will be more easily accessible all year round thanks to the care and consideration of the District Church Committee.

“We’re very pleased to be able to extend the support we’re providing from the Armistead Wind Farm fund for the committee’s work and hope all the visitors to the church feel the benefit of it over the winter.”

Environmental and community projects in the vicinity of the Armistead Wind Farm which are interested in applying to its community fund should first contact the fund manager via [email protected] or on 0191 378 6342 to confirm that their group or project is eligible.