Church Building Project Updates
“The current condition of the church fabric is seen as an issue which needs to be addressed urgently. While the full list of fabric issues are noted elsewhere, the largest and most compelling issue is the condition of the North Aisle roof. This important 15th century timber structure covered in copper is in a dangerous condition and is currently supported off internal scaffolding. It needs to be sensitively, but comprehensively, repaired and re-covered to allow the North Aisle space to be brought back into use. Without this repair, it will be hard to take the building and parish forward.”
John Bailey (Architect) May 2021
A Way Forward – January 2024
Quite clearly there is significant remedial work to address to preserve the heritage of this Grade 1 listed building, and to remove it from the buildings “At Risk” register. Essentially our plan is to restore the failing Tudor roof structure over the north aisle and create a new community space beneath, with a small tea station at the west end of the church footprint
It may not seem that much has been done to repair St Andrews but the story so far…..
| 2019 | Roof collapse (Oct 2019) Taylor’s make safe and explore issue in conjunction with David Ferguson (quinquennial architect) |
| 2020 | March 2020 LOCKDOWN Scaffolding and additional investigations and work done to secure the roof etc (Oct 2020) Structural engineer report (Nov 2020) Meeting with Archdeacon (Dec 2020) |
| 2021 | Sarah Odell, diocesan heritage advisor on board (Jan 2021) Building put on Historic England ‘at risk register’ (Jan 2021) Project team formed John Bailey – New architect appointed (March 2021) Architects produced plans A-H Architects and Sarah produced statement of need and significance Heritage Lottery Fund grant sought and received for heritage weekend Heritage booklet and banners designed and produced Heritage weekend held (Sept 2021) Numerous community engagement and consultation events at different times and in different places plus boards up in church with responses taken. (Sept 2021 – May 2022) DEC 2021 LOCKDOWN |
| 2022 | Informal Diocesan Advisory Committee visit (March 2022) Proposed plan agreed Expression of interest prepared and sent in to Heritage Lottery Fund based on £1.5m bid Response – please return with a phased version of the project and look at focusing activity programme, concerns raised over management structures and expertise Rough alternative plans drawn up by architect (Sept 2022) New expression of interest submitted Meeting with John Spence – advice on restructuring team and support offered Locality funding provided by John Spence (Sept 2022) |
| 2023 | Heritage Lottery Fund offer support and invite us to apply for large grant (around £1m) (end Feb 2023) Sarah provides proposed new structure which has been suggested by John Spence and lottery funders Some individuals in wider community identified and tentatively approached |
| Next steps | Meet with existing project team (and possibly PCC) to explore changes to structures Alter statement of need and significance. To reflect new rough plans Application to Heritage Lottery Fund by August 17th Response in December Visit other projects Hold a village – wide information event in the village hall Actively share the vision and info at all our events |
Building project timeline September 2022
Building project update January 2023
Building project update February 2023
Building Project – paused September 2023, following village questionnaire indicating insufficient resources
Whilst the physical needs of the building have been documented above, the questionnaire (July 2023) highlighted a very positive regard the local community have for this fine historic church at the centre of their village. In terms of significance, since the church dates to Saxon times with proximity to a major Roman road and the original village water supply, the building encapsulates evidence of most periods in English history, in which the Tudors feature strongly with links to the then nearby Royal Palace now New Hall school. Thus, “Saving A Church For All Seasons.”
Building Project December 2023 – scaled down version of the original plan was formulated with John Bailey (Church Architect) in December 2023, and going forward to 2024 and 2025. Meanwhile, PCC decided on 24th January 2024 to accept the new plan and also to conflate the current scaffolding, so that it no longer intrudes into the nave and so make the church more aesthetically pleasing. This was endorsed at an open project information evening on 7th February 2024.
Building Project Update March 2024 – Temporary permission granted for the scaffolding work to go ahead from Archdeacon Jonathan; Ecclesiastical Ins. informed accordingly. It is hoped the work will be undertaken in March 2024. This work was completed om Friday 8th March 2024.
Regarding the overall revised plan, consists of the north aisle roof repairs and removal of north aisle pews to create a more open space for group activities whilst maintaining the historical integrity of the nave and surrounding areas. It is hoped to meet with John Bailey and Sarah Odell in the near future.
Roof Project Update – 2nd April 2024
Following receipt of some very generous donations, it has been possible to conflate the existing scaffolding into a much less conspicuous single tower tucked behind the white hoarding, making the view down through the main part of the church more aesthetically pleasing.
The Project Steering Group met again on 18th March 2024 with the church architect John Bailey to identify the stages in the revised plan to tackle the North Aisle roof repairs and creation of an open flexible floorspace space below. The organ will remain untouched until final completion of the building work. To join the cycle of the NLHF. we were advised that the timetable to enact both the development and delivery stages of the submission would have to take the project completion estimate into the summer of 2026. We were also reminded that any submission to NLHF. represents a competitive bid and all may not run smoothly, therefore detailed preparation is important.
Although we have put aside some money for seed funding, very soon we will have to begin seeking significant corporate and local funding in earnest. We would appreciate any offers of administrative help e.g. writing letters and minute taking – please contact the churchwarden.
Overall Project Key Milestones
The project is dependent on gaining most of the funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Because of this we need to work with set deadlines and milestones set by the lottery. There is also a much larger and more widely representative team drawn from church and community. The timetables below are based on these deadlines:
| Action | Projected Timeline |
| NLHF First Round Bid Submission
Bid for Development Phase funding |
By November 2024 |
| Decision from NLHF on First Round Bid | Mid March 2025
|
The Project Team are currently endeavouring to prepare an application for NLHF to meet the November 2024 deadline.
John Bostock our church historian, has kindly agreed to lead the Core Planning Team. He is now very busy collating all the documentation required for the Development Stage funding.
We are making progress, slow though it may seem. Our grateful thanks to all those who are giving donations and those contributing to the work involved.
Peter Horton – Churchwarden.