A Grade I listed church in Radnorshire has secured more than £74,000 in National Lottery funding to save an 18th-century marble monument at risk of collapse.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded £74,238 to St Stephen’s Church, Old Radnor to conserve the Lewis Monument, a marble wall memorial to Ann Lewis, who died in 1785.

The monument, located in the chancel, is currently in a dangerously unstable condition, with conservation experts warning it is pulling away from the wall. Marble panels have begun to separate, fixings have failed, and parts of the structure are out of alignment. The area has had to be roped off to protect both worshippers and visitors.

The funding will allow the monument to be carefully dismantled, conserved and rebuilt by specialist conservators Kieran Elliot, of Elliot Ryder Conservation. Failed iron fixings and bedding materials will be removed and replaced with appropriate conservation-grade materials. The work will also tackle the underlying causes of decay, including damp, rainwater disposal and inappropriate hard plaster around the monument.

Additional support is being provided through the Church Commissioners, who are funding wider chancel repairs under a Chancel Repair Liability arrangement. Together, the funding packages aim to stabilise the monument and prevent further structural damage.

As well as urgent conservation work, the project will deliver a programme of community engagement designed to explore and celebrate the history of the church and Old Radnor. Activities will include talks, guided tours, conservation sessions, churchyard wildlife events, archive research and new interpretation materials such as a visitor guide and children’s trail.

The first event took place on June 5, when Dr Marion Evans delivered a well-attended illustrated talk on the archaeology of the Radnor Valley. A further talk, focusing on the Romans in Radnorshire, is planned for August.

St Stephen’s is a Grade I listed church; one of the finest medieval churches in Wales. Its historic interior includes a nationally important late medieval rood screen, carved choir stalls, medieval glass and an outstanding early 16th-century organ case, considered one of the earliest surviving examples in Britain.

Rosemary Watkins, Churchwarden at St Stephen’s Church, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have received this support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The Lewis Monument is in a very fragile condition, and without urgent actionthere is a real risk that it could be lost forever. This grant means we can now undertake the work needed to save it, while also helping more people understand and enjoy the remarkable heritage of St Stephen’s Church.”

Hannah Vernon, Fundraiser and Project Coordinator, added: “St Stephen’s is a very special church, not only for those who worship here, but for the wider community and the many visitors who value its history, beauty, views and adjacent pub! We are so grateful to National Lottery players, the Church Commissioners, and everyone who has already supported our fundraising. We hope people will continue to come along to future events and enjoy learning about the heritage of this wonderful place.”