The Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded a £2.6m grant to Sunderland’s £3.6m cultural project, The Canny Space.
The grant will help transform the Church of Holy Trinity in Sunderland’s East End into a new cultural venue and story centre for the city, with a focus on creative community activities and the hidden histories of the building and the city, designed to encourage local people to engage with grassroots heritage and history, whilst giving one of the most important church buildings in the north east a renewed purpose.
It will secure the future of the Grade I listed building, built between 1718 and 1719 for a congregation then dominated by the wealthy merchants who lived around the thriving port. The church housed what is believed to be the first public library in Sunderland, acted as its first civic rooms and at one point was even the home of the Sunderland fire engine.
The Churches Conservation Trust, the national charity saving historic churches at risk, has cared for the church since 1988, and is now working in partnership with city institutions and organisations including Sunderland University, Sunderland City Council and Hendon Young Peoples Project to bring the building back into community use and establish it as a new cultural venue.
Chris Mullin, Chairman of HLF North East and former MP, said, “this is one of Sunderland’s most important historic buildings. It was one of a handful built in the 18th century that were once the beating heart of the community, having served both as a town hall and as a place of worship. Now, thanks to National Lottery players, this project will bring Holy Trinity back into use, a milestone in the restoration of the historic centre of Sunderland.”
Sunderland City Council Portfolio Holder for Public Health, Wellness and Culture, Councillor John Kelly added, “the money raised by the community to bring this project to life was instrumental in securing this financial support of the Heritage Lottery Fund to develop it still further, and re-establish this historic building at the centre of the community.
“Working together we have created a new arts, heritage and cultural venue where people can not only learn more about our past, but also learn and develop new skills to look towards our future.”