Historic Stourbridge Quaker Meeting House scoops restoration cash (From Stourbridge News)

Historic Stourbridge Quaker Meeting House scoops restoration cash

8:00am Thursday 7th March 2013 in News

AN historic Stourbridge worship centre has been awarded a slice of £159,500 to help fund urgent restoration work.

The Grade II listed Friends Meeting House in Scotts Road has been given £2,500 from the National Churches Trust Partnership Grants scheme towards roof and stonework repairs.

The centuries old ring road facing Quaker meeting house, which underwent £40,000 worth of repair work last year, is one of 48 Christian places of worship across England and Scotland to receive a slice of the cash awarded by the independent church repair and support charity.

Dating back to 1689, it is the oldest building in the town centre area still used for its original purpose.

John Davies, of Worcestershire and Dudley Historic Churches Trust, said: “This is the original meeting house with a gallery, built immediately after the Toleration Act and which has been in continuous use for worship ever since.

“The garden was once the burial ground. It is a little gem with a splendid fitted interior and is very much worth preserving for its architectural and historical significance alone.

“However the meeting house also plays a prominent part in the Stourbridge community, secular and religious, and is much loved by the people of the town.”

Claire Walker, chief executive of the National Churches Trust, said: “I am delighted that we are able to support repair work at 48 churches and meeting houses which are much loved by local people and visitors who enjoy the beauty and history of these sacred spaces.

“As with all of our grants, the amount we can give is dependent on the funding we receive. Independent of church authorities and government - we rely on the generous support of trusts, foundations and individuals to continue our work supporting places of worship.”

The meeting house is open for worship at 10am every Sunday. It is normally closed on weekdays.

Anyone wishing to visit can call John Lampen on 01384 377518 to see if arrangements can be made.