Projects

PROJECTS

A major programme of repair and refurbishment of the church (late 2025 onwards)

This is to be undertaken in 2025-6, beginning with a professional survey of the chancel’s 17th-century ceiling, which is already showing clear evidence of failure. Implementing the whole, very substantial programme will inevitably take a long time to complete. Applications will be made for grants to cover as much as possible of the cost of these works, and the Friends will continue to fund-raise so to be able to share the residual cost with the parish. The programme will be an essential – and, inevitably, very expensive – operation to combat the church’s seriously damp condition. (Since it has no electricity supply, modern methods of damp control are limited to building works.) The programme will focus on …

  • the chancel’s 17th-century ceiling, parts of which have already collapsed
  • its guttering and downpipes, the concrete channel at the base of its walls, and the sump into which all the collected rainwater drains
  • the wooden bellcote, which needs a number of its wooden louvres and some of its lead flashing to be replaced
  • the porch roof and ceiling, in which there are several holes

 

Conservation of the church’s wall paintings and woodwork

Two specialist surveys have been undertaken this year (see News): a survey of the medieval wall paintings (partly funded by the Friends), undertaken by Rickerby & Shekede, and a survey of the church’s woodwork by Hugh Harrison Conservation (funded by the Friends, with major grant aid from the Church of England). 

The condition and future conservation both of the wall paintings and of the woodwork will be greatly improved by addressing the environmental conditions in the church. Specialist conservation work will also be required for both of these extremely important historic features of the church.

As soon as possible, the final reports and recommendations of both surveys, together with the recommendations made in the church’s latest quinquennial report, will be used by the church’s architect to draw up specifications for the necessary works, to be put out to tender and to support applications for grants.

Further details of these and other activities supported by the Friends will be added here in due course.