St Mary’s Church, Sholing, awarded National Lottery Heritage Fund grant
St Mary’s Church, Sholing, awarded National Lottery Heritage Fund grant to secure its heritage for the future
St Mary’s Church, Sholing, has been awarded a grant of £248,874 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to deliver an ambitious project: “Heritage 160 at St Mary’s, Sholing – Securing our Stories of the Past for the Future.”
Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, this vital project will safeguard both the historic church building and the community heritage it represents, as St Mary’s prepares to celebrate the 160th anniversary of its consecration in 2026.
The works will include the installation of a new, environmentally sensitive heating system to protect the Grade II listed Victorian building, the creation of a more accessible and welcoming space with new facilities, and the introduction of interactive digital displays and archives. These improvements will allow more people to discover and engage with the rich heritage of Sholing.
As well as caring for the church’s tangible heritage, the project will preserve and share the intangible cultural heritage of the community. This includes:
the parish’s connections with Southampton’s maritime history, including the Titanic,
the memory of local men and women commemorated in the church’s war memorials and Commonwealth War Graves, and
the stories and traditions of the local Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community, many of whom are buried at St Mary’s.
A programme of talks, exhibitions and school visits will bring these stories to life, while new digital resources – including interactive displays and QR codes in the churchyard – will ensure that the heritage is accessible to all, both now and for future generations.
The Reverend Garry Roberts, Vicar of St Mary’s, said:
“We are thrilled to receive this generous support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. This grant will not only help us care for our beautiful church building but will also enable us to share the unique history of Sholing with a much wider community. Our vision is to make St Mary’s a welcoming place where everyone can explore, learn and celebrate the stories that have shaped our parish.”
Left Philip Andrews, Church Warden & Quantity Surveyor. Right Revd Garry Roberts, Vicar of Sholing Parish
Stuart McLeod, Director of England – London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:
“We are delighted to support this project at St Mary’s, Sholing. Thanks to National Lottery players, heritage that is important to the local community will be preserved, celebrated and made more accessible. The project will ensure that both the church building and the stories it holds remain at the heart of Sholing life for generations to come.”
The project preparation is already underway and the construction work on the grade 2 listed building will start in January 2026 and culminate in a special Service of Rededication in November 2026, marking the 160th anniversary of the church’s consecration.
