The church has long been close to the hearts of the royal family, who previously helped fund its restoration when it fell into disrepair in the 19th Century
King Charles has given more than £50,000 of his own money to help make urgently needed repairs to one of his late mum’s favourite churches.
The monarch, who is today celebrating his 77th birthday, donated the cash to St Peter and St Paul Parish Church in West Newton, Norfolk, after parishioners launched a fundraising campaign to fix the Grade Two listed chapel’s roof.
According to the church’s latest annual financial report, he gifted the sum of £50,900 to the West Newton Roof Fund, via the privy purse, last year.
The late Queen often attended Sunday services at the church, which is on the Royal Sandringham Estate, before her death in September 2022. She was a regular when she stayed on the estate during her winter break and made it the final visit of her Christmas holiday in Norfolk.
She also conducted a special annual prize-giving ceremony for choristers, as well as children of the local primary school, at West Newton village hall on the first Sunday of each February.
The medieval church, which includes memorials to the dead of World War One, has long been close to the hearts of the royal family, who previously helped fund its restoration when it fell into disrepair in the 19th Century.
It still retains its 14th Century tower and 15th Century font, but was almost completely rebuilt in 1881 by architect Arthur Blomfield. Edward VII, who was then the Prince of Wales, was said to be the “driving force” behind the project.
His household reportedly funded the pulpit. His mother Queen Victoria donated the church’s organ and the then Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh provided the choir stalls.
In total, £200,000 is needed to make the full repairs the church now needs. It is understood almost £78,000 has so far been raised, with other donations coming from members of the local community and fundraising events, including plant sales, a Christmas fair and a skydive.
Parishioners are also identifying grants to boost funds to ensure that work on the most urgent repairs can be undertaken before any further deterioration. Other repairs needed include re-tiling the north slopes on the roofs of the Nave and the Chancel, as well as the organ loft roof and the transept roof.
Cracks in the South East Chancel East Aisle walls also need to be stitched and a programme of planned maintenance needs to be implemented to prevent further damage to the stonework.
A notice previously issued by the church in 2023 said: “Dear Friends, after a recent inspection of the church we have been informed that our church is in urgent need of repair, especially to the roof.
“It is expected the works will cost in the region of £200,000, a daunting amount, but we are confident with fundraising events and the help of our local and wider communities we will be able to successfully raise these much needed funds.
“If you would like to save our much loved church please donate to the Help Save Our Church Roof Appeal.”
