A PROJECT to preserve and promote an ancient Grade 1-listed church by making crucial repairs and hosting heritage activities has been given a £500,000 cash boost.

All Saints’ Church, in Brightlingsea, has received a £498,300 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for its Tower of Strength scheme.

The church hopes the cash will power the project, which is focused on making the building’s history and heritage “more welcoming and interesting” to a new generation.

The cash will also fund repairs to the 13th century church and a new-build extension to provide toilets and a kitchenette.

Urgent repairs to the ancient tower will see two parapets replaced as well as remedial work carried out to stop the tower collapsing.

The parish of Brightlingsea and the Friends of All Saints’ will oversee the project, which will begin next year and run until July 2024.

A spokesman for the group said: “We have an ambitious activity programme planned that will share the living heritage of All Saints’ Church and churchyard with a wider range of people of different ages and abilities.

“There will be a special focus on the maritime history connected to the church, the natural environment of the enormous churchyard and the ancient building with its treasures, as well as opportunities for art, craft and musical activities.

“Volunteers will have the chance to learn new skills and the capital works programme offers employment prospects.

“Youngsters can take part in bat-watching or stargazing, while indoors there will be a chance to study the famous ‘Tiles of Tragedy’ or find out who thought California was an island.

“Once the Tudor tower is made safe, we can retrace the steps of the boy who used to light a beacon on top of the tower to guide sailors safely back to Brightlingsea on stormy nights.”

The church’s iconic wall frieze of tiles commemorates all parishioners lost at sea during the past 150 years.

The spokesman added: “This is a wonderful chance for the community to experience a huge range of heritage activities in a centuries-old building made safer and more comfortable thanks to the National Lottery players.”