Church could get first toilet in more than 700 years

A medieval church is a step closer to getting its first ever toilet, so visitors will no longer have to walk 100m (328 ft) down steep stone steps to use a loo in the village.

St Giles Church in Hartington, Derbyshire, which is more than 700 years old, is raising £140,000 for a project which will give them a full water supply for the first time, and they plan to install an accessible toilet and kitchen servery area.

They have been awarded two grants totaling £20,000, and with previous fundraising they have £30,000 left to raise, the National Churches Trust said.

Canon Nicola McNally said the toilets "will make a real difference to the welcome and comfort we can extend to people".

National Churches Trust said they hoped the new facilities would mean the church could host more community groups and events, and that ones which currently take place would become more popular.

The Grade II* listed church, in the Peak District, will receive a £15,659 grant from the National Churches Trust, and a £3,821 grant from the Headley Foundation.

McNally, who is the priest in charge, said they were "absolutely thrilled" to have been awarded this money.

She added: "It means we are now on the final stage of our campaign to raise the £140,000 needed.

"It will make a real difference to the welcome and comfort we can extend to people – including younger, elderly and disabled visitors.

"We are convinced that building a growing and thriving church community is the best way of ensuring our wonderful medieval church is well maintained and survives to serve future generations."

Liz Broomhead, a long-time member of the church and who is part of the fundraising committee, said the church currently had a very limited water supply, with one cold tap in a "cupboard" at the back of the belfry.

However, these plans would mean they could have a proper supply, and enable them to install the toilet and kitchen.

The National Churches Trust said the church's congregation size had doubled since 2018, but the future of the building depended on the hospitality and accessibility it was able to offer.

In a community consultation last year, 92% of people supported the church adding an accessible toilet, said the organisation.

Claire Walker, chief executive of the trust, said it was "delighted to be able to support St Giles Church to enable them to install an accessible toilet and upgrade the servery in their beautiful building".

She said: "Not only will this protect this important heritage, but it will help to keep the church building open and serving local people."

The National Churches Trust said St Giles was thought to be built in the 13th century with major alterations in the 14th and 15th centuries, and the foundations of the building were medieval.

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