2nd June 2026

East Lancashire parish 'thrilled' to receive £250,000 Heritage Lottery grant for church renovations

A parish in East Lancashire has been awarded a huge £250k grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. 

The Parish of Oswaldtwistle will use the grant to save the heritage asset of Immanuel Church and ensure it serves its local community for generations to come. The grant will be used to repair and renovate the church roof.

Immanuel Church is one of the oldest churches in Oswaldtwistle, built between 1836 and 1837. It is a beautiful Grade 2 listed building and without this funding from the Heritage Fund the history it holds and the community space it offers for all could be lost forever.

This project will enable extensive conservation work to take place to the church roof. The preservation of this heritage will enable continuous use of the building for both worship and for the community it serves.

Speaking today Wendy Hope, Churchwarden from The Parish of Oswaldtwistle, said: “We are thrilled to have received this support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players we can restore and preserve the church for generations to come.”

And on hearing news of the grant, Archdeacon of Blackburn, The Venerable Jane Atkinson, added: “I’m delighted to see this investment in Immanuel Church, a place that sits right at the heart of its community. This funding will help to ensure the building can continue to be a space of welcome, worship and connection for generations to come.

"I’m excited to see how it enables even more people to be part of its story in the future as the church continues to share the good news of Jesus Christ.”

Immanuel Church is well utilised in a variety of different ways in the service of the community, from weddings, baptisms and funerals to  hosting local and international visitors; as well as providing community organisations with space to gather. It is a vital and vibrant part of the community, also used with great pride for moments of national celebration.

This funding will ensure that volunteers, local groups and schools will be able to take part in the project through events and training opportunities, allowing even more people to understand part of the heritage of this town.

Captions for the above pictures:

• Rev Barbara Hunter of the Parish of Oswaldtwistle with Wendy Hope, Churchwarden at Immanuel Church
• Front view of Immanuel Church

Background information

About The Parish of Oswaldtwistle

Oswaldtwistle has a rich history, deeply intertwined with the Industrial Revolution and the rise of the cotton textile industry. It is a small town, with a population of approximately 12,300 people, and a village atmosphere with a strong sense of community.

The population of the town is centred around the main road and close by housing estates, with an outlying area mainly of farmland.  The town centre boasts a range of shops, cafes, pubs and other amenities.  There are regular community events in the town, and plenty of green space including parks and two local nature reserves.

The parish is a big one in a big area with big potential. Immanuel Church is just one of three churches within the Parish of Oswaldtwistle. They are a busy parish who engages with their  local community through the many activities they provide.

Their buildings, including the Parish Hall, along with their affiliated cricket and bowling clubs, all help to enhance and support a vibrant community for all.

About The National Lottery Heritage Fund 

Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033.

Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.

Over the next 10 years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities.

heritagefund.org.uk