Conservation

Welcome to the Conservation Section

The Trust's conservation philosophy is guided by its unique position in having responsibility for a large number of important historic, but redundant, churches, and by its desire to expand community access and use. All Trust churches are listed, mostly Grade I, and some are Scheduled Ancient Monuments. They are worthy of preservation for a wide variety of reasons, all linked to their cultural significance.

In this section you will find details about recent and current conservation projects at churches throughout the country. You will also find policy publications, details of conservation skills at our churches and biographies of the conservation team. The section will be updated regularly with details and news about conservation projects, including the extensive programme of repairs, training and open days we are currently planning for 2009.

Below are some examples of recent conservation work carried out by the team

SS Mary & Lawrence, Stratford Tony, Wiltshire

Conservation of Kempe stained glass

 

St Mary, Stainburn, North Yorkshire

Reinstatement of this stolen stained glass panel. A detailed report can be found under Projects

 

 

 

 

 

St Mary, Higham, Kent

 

 Extensive conservation repairs to external stonework during 2008

 

 

 

 

 

St Mary, Redgrave, Suffolk

 

A view from the west end of the church showing phase II of the new vesting repairs to this incredible church on the Suffolk/Norfolk border 

 

 

 

 

 

 St Mary, Chilton, Suffolk

Detail from the 14th-century glass during conservation, showing a blue demon on the receiving end of St Michael's sword. The conservation of the glass is part of a larger project to replace the 1970s fibreglass windows of the church with new lead quarry windows. The work is being carried out by Devlin Plummer Stained Glass of Great Moulton in Norfolk

 

 

 

 

 St Mary-at-the-Quay, Ipswich, Suffolk

 

Borehole drilling by WSP Environmental. This work was carried out in January 2008 to inform the future conservation plans for the church. Most especially we needed to know the ground make-up and height of the water table. The high salt content of the underground water coupled with the concrete floor has meant that the Caen limestone columns have been suffering as the salty water wicks into them and causes degradation of the stone