St Brandon's in Brancepeth is an outstanding medieval church with features dating from the 12th century. It also holds the largest collection of medieval cross slabs in the North of England.

In 1998, a devastating fire damaged most of the church, which began a period of repair and rebuilding. This grant supported the restoration work and activities to engage the community with the church's heritage.

The work included:

• stonework repairs
• restoration to the North Porch
• other masonry repairs

Church volunteers organised guided tours and a heritage training day was held, in which participants learned how to examine the church's structure and traditional restoration techniques, such as lime pointing. The church is producing a leaflet, updating the website and promoting itself as a cultural space.  

On completion of the project, the church is structurally secure and watertight. It can be enjoyed by visitors who can also learn about its history.