A multi-million-pound restoration project to save one of Peterborough's historic churches has received a financial boost.
St Peter and All Souls, a Grade II listed Roman Catholic church in the heart of the city, has been supported with an initial grant of £218,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The grant marks a significant milestone in its planned restoration.
The church, designed by the Victorian architect Leonard Stokes, was constructed between 1895 and 1904.
The building has been suffering from serious structural issues, including large cracks caused by unstable ground conditions.
Parish-commissioned structural surveys exposed extensive subsidence, with engineers warning of potential collapse without immediate intervention.
The restoration and stabilisation works are projected to cost more than £2 million.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund's backing is a significant step forward, funding the next phase of the project and enabling the appointment of specialist consultants to draft a detailed restoration plan.
Father Karol Porczak, parish priest at St Peter and All Souls, said: "This church is not just a building – it is the heart of our community and a place where generations have come together in faith, celebration and support.
"We are deeply thankful to the National Lottery Heritage Fund and to all who have helped us reach this point.
"This is a moment of hope for us and for the city."
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Parish council chairman Angelo Cuenca said: "We may have come from different nationalities, cultures and speak a range of languages but under this one roof we express a universal Catholic faith in praise and prayer.
"We would love for future generations to have what we have, a place of worship.
"We are grateful for all the support from the Diocese of East Anglia, our parish community and the National Lottery for working with us towards its fruition."
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