The churches, spread across the East of England, will now see crucial repairs made possible in addition to programmes of community activities ensuring the future of these very special buildings.

The grants, all made to Grade I or II* listed churches, have been awarded though HLF’s Grants for Places of Worship (GPOW) programme, thanks to National Lottery players.

HLF has invested over £66million into religious buildings and monuments across the East of England, and these latest awards demonstrate HLF’s commitment to repairing and restoring places of worship.

Thanks to support from National Lottery players, in the East of England we've repaired 133 roofs (including eight re-thatched), secured 66 towers and supported eight spires.

The churches receiving grants include:

• All Saints, Turvey, Bedfordshire: £113,000: All Saints, Turvey is a grade I listed church is situated at the heart of Turvey and has been at the centre of village life for a thousand years. It is one of the finest and oldest churches in the Diocese of St. Albans, with parts of the present building dating to Saxon times
• St Mary the Virgin, Baldock, Hertfordshire: £211,200: The largely intact medieval parish church was founded in the 12th century by the Knights Templar. The church, on the corner of the Baldock's central crossroads, plays an important role within the local community for worship, weddings, christenings, funerals, bell-ringing and school activities
• All Saints, Wood Norton, Norfolk: £193,000: All Saints, Wood Norton is a grade II* listed building whose south wall may date from Saxon times. The existing chancel, nave and tower date largely from the 14th century with later windows whilst the porch is probably early 15th century
• Borley Church, Braintree, Essex: £151,200: Borley Church stands on a pre-conquest manorial site at the centre of Borley village. The church's dedication date is unknown, however parts of the nave wall are believed to date back to the 12th century