Dorset | Posted on October 22nd, 2026 | return to news

Holy Rood Church in Shillingstone celebrates roof repairs

Fundraising and a Wolfson grant have come to the rescue of a north Dorset church after three years of worry and a collapsed roof.

In the last three years the Church of the Holy Rood in Shillingstone has had to find over £300,000 to repair its roofs. Unfortunately, a sudden rise in costs by £20,000 in VAT, caused by the scrapping of the grant scheme by the government last year, put the final phase of the repairs at risk. Now, a grant from the Wolfson Foundation has completed the fundraising and means the last phase can take place.

When the roof of the North Aisle collapsed in 2023, sending waves of water into the church causing damage, an inspection identified two other roofs at risk: the chancel (with six leaks), and the nave.

Repairs to churches are paid for by local congregations and fundraising began at Holy Rood. The 800+-year-old church is situated in a village of just 1,200 people and the project was split into three phases concentrating on the collapsed North Aisle first followed by the chancel roof and lastly the nave.

When costs were suddenly driven up due to the UK Government’s decision to end the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme last year, a further £20,000 in VAT had to be found to complete the project. Anxiety among the volunteers was running high because the third phase of roof repairs to the nave were vital to prevent collapse which would render the church unusable for worship and damage the interior heritage.

Fortunately, help arrived and following the recommendation of the National Churches Trust, Holy Rood will receive a Wolfson Fabric Repair Grant of £11,235 from the Wolfson Foundation to complete the fundraising.

Buckets have become a regular feature in the church to collect water from the leaks to protect the important heritage inside the building. With the grant in place, the roof above the nave and porch will now be repaired. This includes adding new timber battens and oak rafters where necessary, replacing damaged roof tiles and fixing gutters that have become rotten or defective.

Claire Walker, chief executive of the National Churches Trust, said: ”The National Churches Trust is delighted to be able to support Holy Rood Church to enable them to carry out urgent repairs to their beautiful building. Not only will this protect this important heritage, but it will help to keep the church building open and serving local people. 

“Whether seeking quiet reflection, access to community services or a place to worship, the National Churches Trust helps hundreds of churches each year and with the support of local people, keeps them thriving today and tomorrow.  

“The VAT costs added onto this project, which has meant the church needed an extra £20,000 to pay the government is disheartening. We’re seeing this happening at listed churches across the country, whose repair projects are being set back by new VAT bills of thousands of pounds. The UK Government must urgently look to make VAT reclaimable again as it’s putting the history and heritage – and the future of churches – at risk.”

Paul Ramsbottom, chief executive of the Wolfson Foundation, said: “Churches have a crucial role as places of worship – but they also serve as integral parts of our communities, and not least as custodians of heritage. We are pleased to continue our partnership with the National Churches Trust to help safeguard these important, beautiful buildings for future generations.”

Holy Rood joins 46 other churches benefitting from an urgent pay out from the National Churches Trust of more than £750,000 designed to keep UK churches open and in use.

From gargoyles on the tower to impressive stained-glass windows and two stunning painted ceilings, there’s a rich heritage to enjoy at Holy Rood Church, which is open every day. Visitors are welcome. A public footpath connects the churchyard to the North Dorset Trailway.

Canon Sue Chandler, lay chair of the Parochial Church Council, said: “The Church of the Holy Rood has over the last few years needed to replace all the roofs – the North Aisle, chancel and now nave – which was last done approximately 140 years ago. This has been very expensive, and we have been very grateful for the support of charities and of the village community in this endeavour.

“The announcement that the VAT relief scheme for churches was ending added 20 per cent to the amount we needed to raise for the nave roof and came after we had completed the major fundraising – we were at a loss to know where to go for help when we learnt that we could apply to the National Churches Trust and are very grateful that they were prepared to step in and help us.

“This means a huge amount to us as the work needed is already far more extensive than we had expected – the roof battens were rotting which was not anticipated to this degree. Because of your help, we hope we will be able to keep a little in our reserves – which will be much needed as there is a growing crack in the chancel arch which is likely to be our next needed repair project.”

Packed with history and heritage, Holy Rood is a pretty Norman church. It is a favourite among ‘church crawlers’ and architecture enthusiasts. The nave and chancel date back to the early 12th century and the tower was added in the 15th century. In the nave the painted ceiling was decorated by renowned Gothic Revival architect G F Bodley (1827-1907), whose designs influenced the Arts & Craft movement. Whereas the chancel’s ceiling is painted with blue and gold stars and motifs which is possibly 18th century.

Mary Lowndes (1857–1929), a British stained-glass artist born locally in Sturminster Newton designed the stained-glass window in the tower. It commemorates her life-long companion’s nephew, who died in the First World War. Richard Forbes Lowndes was Second Lieutenant of the King’s Royal Rifles and died on 14 November 1916, aged just 19. The window depicts the Virgin Mary, St Michael and the Angel Gabriel.

The church is a much-loved local gem and holds important British heritage and history. It is estimated that after the repairs are completed it will be at least 100 years before another new roof is needed and so the hardworking team at Holy Rood will have protected and preserved this place of worship for many years to come.