The structural restoration of All Saints’ Parish Church is firmly linked to the renewal of the faith and the renewal of all our parish buildings. These two challenges, though tackled in very different ways, are the two sides of the same coin, forming the two complementary parts of our Restoration and Renewal Project.
While the restoration programme seeks to preserve the unique historical and cultural patrimony that affords to All Saints’ its Grade I listing, the renewal project seeks to deepen our relationship with God and improving our liturgy, while also improving how we can best serve the town through our buildings.

Contribution form the Heritage Lottery Fund
The Parish Church of All Saints’ has been awarded support by the National Lottery Heritage Fund for its restoration project (Delivery Phase). Made possible by National Lottery players, the project began last year with an initial grant of £25,700 and it now has been awarded full funding for the second phase in the sum of £224,300.

This project has a two-fold aim; to make critical repairs to Houghton Regis Parish Church and to engage local people in their exceptional heritage.
The first and main part of the project will begin on Monday 3rd June. It aims to carry out essential conservation work to the outside of our Grade I listed building; the outer structure of the church is in desperate need of repair – its striking chequered pattern of flint and Totternhoe stone needing extensive renovation and having been breached in places.
The second part of the project will also begin in the coming months. This aims to put in place an educational programme with a number of cultural activities to engage local residents in the unique historical, cultural, and spiritual heritage preserved at All Saints’. The project will involve recruitment and training of volunteers to keep the Parish Church open for tourists and visitors longer during the day, as well as promoting inspiring and interactive visits from our local schools.

All Saints’ Parish Church has been listed by Historic England in the Heritage at Risk register since October 2016, and it will continue to be listed in it at least throughout the Delivery Phase. However, support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund is a great boost of confidence and precious financial help for our parish which is currently engaged in a wider Restoration and Renewal Project estimated at an extra £300,000 over the National Lottery support. This is also a great boost of confidence for our town which is already benefitting from the excellent work done at Houghton Hall Park and also supported by the National Lottery.

Further works
The restoration of our Parish Church inevitably requires further and considerable financial commitment from the Parochial Church Council (PCC) estimated to exceed £300,000. This investment will cover

• the creation of a Heritage and Community space at the back of the church to facilitate a more flexible use of the church (removing a number of pews, replacing them with chairs, and restoration of the parquet flooring)
• reopening and restoration of the west door onto Bedford Road
• restoration of glasswork (estimated at £80,000)
• redevelopment of facilities to enhance disabled access;
• redevelopment of vestries and servery;
• creation of the Memorial Path;
• restoration and cleaning of the church organ;
• renovation of liturgical furnishings, textiles and vestments.

 
Works are already well underway for a few of these points, but it is important to stress that All Saints’ Parish does not benefit from Government financial support or from the Church of England as a national institution. We rely entirely on the generosity of our town and congregation, and on the invaluable efforts of all our volunteers.
 
Any financial donation towards this restoration and renewal will be greatly appreciated, and you can do so by sending a cheque payable to All Saints' PCC
to:
Restoration and Renewal,
FAO Fr Diego Galanzino SMMS,
The Clergy House,
Lowry Drive,
Houghton Regis, LU5 5SJ.

Did you know?
In October 2016 All Saints’ Parish Church was included in the Heritage at Risk Register of Historic England.

See the listing here.

The west door - to be reopened as part of future restoration works.