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£2.65m Heritage Fund award moves Colchester’s oldest building towards a new community future

Holy Trinity Church has secured £2.65m from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, unlocking the next phase of a £3.4m project to restore Colchester’s oldest standing building and bring it back into everyday community and cultural use.

By THE TEA · 2 September 2026

Holy Trinity Church in Colchester, showing the historic church building and its Saxon tower Image: Amandajm / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0Original source

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Colchester’s oldest standing building has moved a major step closer to becoming a busy community and cultural space after Holy Trinity Church secured £2.65 million from The National Lottery Fund.

The award unlocks the next phase of a wider £3.4 million programme to restore the historic church, whose Saxon tower makes it one of the city centre’s most distinctive landmarks. Despite its importance, the building has been largely closed and underused for decades.

The plans are intended to give Holy Trinity a everyday role as well as protect its historic fabric. The future venue is being shaped as a flexible place for heritage, culture and community activity, giving residents and visitors another reason to spend time in the heart of Colchester.

The Heritage Fund award sits alongside a wider package of support involving Historic England, The Pilgrim Trust, Essex Heritage Trust, the Community Assets Fund and contributions, with further funding still being sought.

The project now moves into detailed design work and contractor appointment. Colchester City Council says it is working towards renewal and reopening in the second half of 2028, with construction and opening dates to be confirmed as the scheme develops.