St Nicholas Chapel King's Lynn gets the green light
Repair work can now be carried out thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund and all those that supported the ‘Calling All Angels’ campaign which raised over £210,000 . Improved interpretation, new volunteers and many more activities will greet visitors from the summer of 2014.
For over 600 years St Nicholas’ Chapel has enriched the lives of the people of King’s Lynn and Norfolk, attracting national and international visitors. To protect this rich history for the future and enable this incredible building to remain one of the jewels in King’s Lynn’s crown, the Churches Conservation Trust and Friends of St Nicholas’ have been working together for five years on a conservation and adaptation project.
The past two years have seen intensive efforts by the community and CCT to realise this project which will create a lively space where people will find out about the past and record new histories about how we live, as well as enabling local people to take over the running of the refurbished St Nicholas’ for the use of the town.
The Chapel will also be used for a wider range of activities, by residents old and new, and to encourage everyone in King’s Lynn to support this most international of buildings.
Our Chairman Loyd Grossman OBE FSA, said
“This stunning landmark is a delight to visit and houses many spectacular features which are a legacy of hundreds of years of craftsmanship. We are so proud of this successful campaign and to be working with The Friends of St Nicholas’ and local people on this project which provides an opportunity for the community to be part of the next stage in St Nicholas’ history”
Sir Jeremy Bagge Bt.DL has been the Chairman of the fundraising committees, and said
“A major ‘thank you’ is due to all those in the Borough of King’s Lynn, in Norfolk and nationally, who have donated towards this restoration. The challenge of fundraising in 2012 has been immense, but it has demonstrated the affection for this architectural gem in the town. The project will bring new life into the North End and True’s Yard museum.”
As Chairman of the Friends of St Nicholas’ Chapel, Brian Chase said –
“This green light for St Nicholas’ future is a wonderful result which we hope will benefit the town of Lynn and all who visit this remarkable building. We look forward to completion of the restoration in 2014, and our thanks to all who worked tirelessly in the bid.”
The project has been generously supported by the following Trusts & Foundations for which CCT is very grateful:
The Garfield Weston Foundation
Friends of St Nicholas’ Chapel
The King’s Lynn Preservation Trust
Simon Gibson Charitable Trust
PF Charitable Trust
Lady Hind Trust
The Charles Littlewood Hill Trust
The Prince of Wales’s Charitable Foundation
Paul Bassham Charitable Trust
Geoffrey Watling Charity
The Swire Charitable Trust
The Earle and Stuart Charitable Trust
Fitzmaurice Trust
Audrey Muriel Stratford Trust
Norwich Anne French Distributions
C & C Barrett Charitable Trust
King’s Lynn Civic Society
Pennycress Trust
Timothy Colman Charitable Trust