St Mary’s Church in Kirkby Lonsdale has been awarded a Development Grant of £370,446 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund so it can start the work it needs to repair the Grade I listed building. Talking to The Westmorland Gazette in March, Peter Gregson, Project Lead at St Mary’s Church, said the church was at risk of closing within three years unless full funding is secured. Following the initial support funding success, Mr Gregson said: “We are absolutely delighted, and very grateful, to have received this initial support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Helen Featherstone, North of England director at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “We’re thrilled to support St Mary’s Church with this initial grant to work towards repairing and restoring the striking, centuries-old Grade I listed building. “Thanks to National Lottery players, this development phase will help progress plans to safeguard the church’s important heritage for future generations.”