Come-to-Good Quaker Meeting House near Truro has been awarded a grant by the £35,000 National Churches Trust to help pay for urgent repairs to its thatched roof.
Set in an idyllic rural Cornish lane, it has provided a quiet and peaceful place of worship since 1710 and is open to the public 24 hours a day, all year around.
But the Grade I-listed building was added to Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register in November, marked as ‘poor’ and facing ‘slow decay’.
The thatch is letting in a significant amount of water which is starting to rot the roof timbers and force them apart. It will be replaced by a local thatcher with previous experience of working on the building.
Meeting house clerk Miranda Bird said: “It’s a very special place, both to our thriving local faith community and to Quakers across Cornwall, the UK and the world. Beyond the Quaker community, our many visitors love it too, and many feel it’s an important part of Cornwall’s heritage.
“The brilliant response we’ve had to our public appeal shows how much people value this beautiful and peaceful place. But we couldn’t fund the extensive works needed to save the building without funders like the National Churches Trust.
“The grant means Quakers will be able to continue to worship at Come-to-Good just as we have for over 300 years, and the whole community can visit this beautiful place.”
Claire Walker, chief executive of the National Churches Trust, said: "We’re delighted to be able to support Come-to-Good Quaker Meeting House. Not only will this protect this important heritage, but it will help to keep the building open and welcoming to all.”
Thanks to the support of the National Churches Trust and other funders, seven churches have been removed from the Heritage at Risk Register in 2024 and are no longer in danger.