‘Heritage Fund award brings Epworth Old Rectory’s collections to new audiences’
by Epworth Old Rectory on July 9th, 2024 in blog
Epworth Old Rectory has received a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund of £191,160 for an exciting heritage project, ‘Out of the Box: unlocking collections at Epworth Old Rectory’, in Epworth, North Lincolnshire.
Made possible by National Lottery players, the project will see the renovation of old store rooms into a secure and accessible collections store and research space. Work to convert the new store will start winter 2024 and open summer 2025. The new store will better care for and preserve the thousands of unique objects housed at the Old Rectory and enable collections to be shared with everyone.
Supported through the Heritage Fund, the project will also deliver an exciting and varied two year activity programme starting from summer 2024. The programme will take collections ‘out of the box’, to unlock their stories and potential. The activities will share fascinating stories about collections and provide the community of all ages with new opportunities to learn about collections and heritage. There will be something for everyone with archaeology digs, traditional craft workshops and school and reminiscence sessions. Volunteers will also get the chance to learn new collections care skills and how to take part in living history events.
Epworth Old Rectory is a Grade I Listed Queen Anne former vicarage in North Lincolnshire, built in 1709 by Samuel Wesley, whose children, John and Charles, went onto found the Methodist movement within the Church of England. The Rectory, collections and displays tell fascinating stories of the Wesley Family, the building and local area, offering a glimpse into what eighteenth century life was like for a large family of 19 children!
The collection includes 18th century furniture, pewter, silver, paintings and prints, personal/family items, letters, a library and an archive. The house is set in three acres of land and has a small front garden, an orchard, a domestic kitchen garden and a Physic Garden, commemorating John Wesley’s interest in practical medicine.
The Best Chamber at Epworth Old Rectory
Sarah Friswell, Chair of Trustees at Epworth Old Rectory ‘We are delighted to have received this generous support from the Heritage Fund, made possible by National Lottery players. The creation of a new store and resources room together with an exciting programme of events will enable us to showcase our fascinating Collection to a much wider audience.’
Notes to editors
About Epworth Old Rectory
Epworth Old Rectory (EOR) was, from 1695 to 1745, the family home of Samuel and Susanna Wesley and their 19 children (10 of whom survived into adulthood including John and Charles Wesley, founders of Methodism).
The current house, a Queen Anne Grade 1 Listed building, stands on the footprint of the earlier rectory which burnt to the ground in 1709. The building continued to be used by the Church of England as a rectory for St Andrew’s parish until 1954 when it was bought by funds raised by the World Methodist Council.
In 1957 it was opened to the general public as a (now accredited) museum dedicated to the life and times of John and Charles Wesley and in particular the influence on them by their parents, Samuel and Susanna Wesley. It is open to the public 4 days a week from April to October, welcoming visitors from all over the world for guided tours and an increasing range of events and workshops.
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
As the largest dedicated funder of the UK’s heritage, The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033.
Over the next ten years, the Heritage Fund aims to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to bring about benefits for people, places and the natural environment.
The Heritage Fund helps protect, transform and share the things from the past that people care about, from popular museums and historic places, our natural environment and fragile species, to the languages and cultural traditions that celebrate who we are.
The Heritage Fund is passionate about heritage and committed to driving innovation and collaboration to make a positive difference to people’s lives today, while leaving a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy.
Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund www.heritagefund.org.uk.
Further information
For further information, images and interviews please contact Anya Johnson, Visits and Collections Manager at Epworth Old Rectory on 01427 872268 or vcm@epwortholdrectory.org.uk
