A long-standing church in the heart of York has been granted a vital lease of life by a generous anonymous donor.
Nestled in the shadow of the Minster, St Michael le Belfrey has been a familiar sight to York residents since the early 1500s. Best-known as the church where Guy Fawkes was baptised, the building is also a firm favourite amongst history buffs due to its Baroque-style interior and connection with famed Emperor Constantine the Great.
If you’ve walked through York’s city centre recently, you’ll have noticed the scaffolding surrounding St Michael le Belfrey. This is all part of a major £8.5 million “Impact Project,” which has been taking place since 2024 with the aim of restoring and modernising the church.
Despite St Michael le Belfrey’s historical significance and Grade I listed status, the project was recently put at risk by a change in the way the church receives government funding. In January, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport introduced a new funding limit, meaning the church could reclaim only up to £25,000 in VAT costs through the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme.
As a result, the church was left facing significantly higher costs than anticipated when the project began — with a potential shortfall of more than £1 million. Understandably, this created serious financial pressure led church leaders to consider scaling back the improvements or even leaving parts of the work unfinished.
Luckily, a mysterious donor has stepped into save the historic building and ensure that the project can go on as intended. With a hugely generous donation of £1.2m, the anonymous party has ensured that this irreplaceable piece of local history will remain intact for future generations.
Thanks, whoever you are!
Head to www.facebook.com/TheBelfreyYork/?locale=en_GB for more updates about the church as it gets to closer to re-opening.
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