CHURCHES across Oxfordshire are set to benefit from new grants from The Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust.

St Mary's in Chalgrove, with its famous Medieval wall paintings, is among churches across the country being handed £1.5m in support grants by the charity, with many more set to benefit in the coming years.

It comes after the Trust announced the completion of its 2014 Jubilee Campaign to raise £3m in donations, half in cash and half in legacies.

The £1.5m in grants is part of its new heritage endowment fund.

Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust (OHCT) spokesman Stephen Dawson said: "It has been a very successful campaign supported by individuals and trusts from across the county.

"It's often the case that OHCT is the first to step in and give a grant for repairs and restoration and then other organisations come forward.

"The Rt Rev Colin Fletcher, the Bishop of Dorchester, calls it sticky money because the first donation from us attracts other funding."

St Mary’s in Chalgrove is a Grade I listed church and last year it was awarded £544,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to preserve its medieval wall paintings.

Refurbishment project leader Charles Baker, who lives in Chalgrove, said: "During the latest phase of work the OHCT gave us £15,000 and when we discovered previously unknown wall paintings dating back to the Reformation it gave us an additional £2,000.

"The OHCT has helped with every phase of work we have done, including repairs to the roof and putting in toilets, a kitchen and a new ringing chamber."

Mr Dawson added: "We have supported St Mary's Chalgrove over a number of years with restoration projects.

"When the latest wall paintings were discovered it was very exciting for everyone involved".

OHCT was established in 1964 and gives about £200,000 a year in grants to Oxfordshire churches and chapels of all Christian denominations, for essential repairs and facilities to make the buildings more usable for community activities.

OHCT chairman Basil Eastwood said: "In Oxfordshire’s towns and villages the churches and chapels have iconic status and connect us all to our past whether we are church goers or not.

"Sadly many, and in villages perhaps most congregations are less and less able to maintain these wonderful buildings.

"As part of our Jubilee celebrations OHCT therefore decided to establish an endowment heritage fund with an initial £3m, half in legacies and half in cash and pledges over time".

St John the Baptist in Stadhampton got support from OHCT to help with a project to convert the church so it can double up as a village hall.

And 12th century St John the Baptist Kingston Lisle was on English Heritage’s register of heritage at risk in 2014 but has now been restored and received a grant from OHCT.

Angus Saer, the churchwarden who ran the project, said: "OHCT's financial and moral support from the very beginning of our £400,000 restoration project at Kingston Lisle has been crucial to its success".

For further information visit ohct.org.uk