Churches across the county are “hoping for growth” with a major £3.2 million revamp.

Parish churches in Margate and Maidstone, which are both in the Diocese of Canterbury, will receive a share of the funding to help with repairs and setting up new congregations.

Holy Trinity Margate is set to be re-established as a church and will work to revitalise the neighbouring parishes of St Paul’s, in Cliftonville, St John’s, in Margate, and All Saints’, in Westbrook.

The grant, awarded by The Church of England, will also be used to pay for ministry, much-needed repairs and renovation at St Paul’s, and fundraising support to help St John’s with a major building project.

Elsewhere in the county, funds will be put towards a project in Maidstone to develop the partnership between St Luke’s and St Faith’s.

Strategic programme manager, Colin Evans, said: “Our strategy is for growth and we have asked all of our deaneries, working with their parishes and benefices, to consider how they might grow missionally.

“We are therefore hugely grateful for the funding made available to help these parishes in their journey of revitalisation and becoming an event greater blessing to their communities.

“Contrary to what might be expected, we have relatively high levels of deprivation across our diocese including in Margate and some areas of Maidstone so this investment is critical in enabling us help that happen, as it can be difficult for the money to be found locally.”

It comes as the diocese hoped to double the number of young people attending church, create new Christian communities and revamp its churches by 2030.

The latest grant has been awarded to help churches spread the Christian faith, including parish renewal programmes and children’s and youth work.