St John's Church, Croglin

St John's Church, Croglin, is situated in a fellside area of East Cumbria between the Pennines and the River Eden. The Grade II-listed church was built in 1878 using local red sandstone and consists of a four-bay nave with south porch, a three-bay chancel and a vestry.

Due to a dwindling congregation, in 2012, the building was deemed unsustainable to run as a parish church, and was later closed. Demising congregations, rising maintenance costs and reduced numbers of clergy have left many rural churches in similar situations and, in this case, the Diocese of Carlisle decided to sell St John’s for residential use. It was a tricky proposition, as the building required listed building consent - right of access was across the graveyard and the garden was restricted to a metre of land outside the church walls. A group of inspiring residents, however, came together with the hope of saving the church. The Diocese, who were keen to leave the church for community use, provisionally offered them the building on a 125-year lease at a peppercorn rent.

With a Steering Committee established, the group agreed that the building should continue to meet the community’s needs, while also responding to opportunities presented by its location in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Initial ideas for its use included relocation of the village Post Office, champing, and as a fellside heritage and information centre.

In 2020, the group approached the Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) for funding and information on establishing themselves as an organisation. The following year, they were awarded an AHF Project Viability Grant to cover architect’s fees, business case consultation, legal advice, and staff costs for managing the project. The AHF also put the group in touch with the Heritage Trust Network and other AHF grantees, so that they were able to seek peer group support. Whilst undertaking building surveys, the group unfortunately came across asbestos in the church, and so, the AHF stepped in with a small grant increase to cover an asbestos survey for essential removal. The group is presently putting together their Development Plan with funding options in preparation for taking on the lease and obtaining planning permission.

Ruth Lawley, Trustee of The Helm at Croglin, said:

‘The Helm at Croglin are very grateful to the AHF, not only for the funding of the viability study, but also for providing useful advice and guidance to a group of novices in the world of developing and sustaining community buildings.'

About The Helm at Croglin

The Helm at Croglin (named after the Helm wind) was formed as a CIO in May 2022 and is managed by 6 trustees. Their charity objectives are to establish and run a community centre to promote the benefit of the inhabitants of, and visitors to, the parish and neighbourhood of Croglin.

AHF Funding

Project Viability Grant - £8,500 (2021)

Grant increase request to cover cost of an asbestos survey - £325 (2021)

This grant was made possible with funding from Historic England.

June 2022