A grade l listed church has been thrown a financial lifeline after woodpeckers and crows turned its roof into a “sieve”.

The historic All Saints Church in Stisted, which is regularly used by bell ringers, a mother and baby group and village primary school, has been awarded a £197,700 grant by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for urgent repair work.


It is the largest of seven grants given to churches across the East of England, which total £558,500.

An HLF spokesman said: “With woodpeckers chipping away at the spire and crows nesting in the bell chamber, it is sadly representative of many places of worship today and has been described as a ‘sieve’ by experts.

“Now, the Grade I listed church will be made watertight so that the future of the building can be secured."