Landmark Evesham Church to Undergo Important Repairs
The Churches Conservation Trust's Church of St Lawrence, a landmark in Evesham, Worcestershire is to receive £200,000 worth of repair work. Members of the public can get involved and see the work unfold at a series of free open days taking place this winter.
As part of our national conservation programme, St. Lawrence Church, in Evesham town centre, has been prioritised for the re-roofing of the church’s south aisle and major repairs to the high level windows, parapets and pinnacles.
The work will take place in St. Lawrence Church between this December and March 2013 and will include:
- Re-roofing of the south aisle
- Repairs to high level parapets, pinnacles, and chimney
- Repairs to the stone tracery of the clerestory windows
- Work to conserve the glazing, leading and ironwork of the building’s windows
Conservation Project Manager Gabriella Misuriello says, “The Churches Conservation Trust is committed to protecting historic churches at risk. In order to conserve St. Lawrence’s distinct interior the CCT has ring-fenced £200,000 to carry out important repairs this winter. This will allow St Lawrence’s to continue to play a role as an important Evesham tourist attraction as well as providing potential for the stunning building to be used as a vibrant community space in the future.”
Although the church will be closed for the duration of the conservation work, a series of free public Open Days are planned so Evesham residents can view the work as it progresses and learn more about the historic landmark.
Joanna Cross, Volunteering Officer, explains, “While it’s necessary to close St. Lawrence Church to the public while work is underway, the church is a significant community building and it’s important to ensure local people are able to use it. We would therefore like to invite local residents, and everyone interested in England’s historic buildings, to see the repair work in progress at one of our free open days on Saturday 15 December or Saturday 9 February between 11am and 2pm.”
There will also be a grand re-opening of the building in April 2013 once work is completed.
St. Lawrence Church is located near the Market Place, in the grounds of Evesham’s former Benedictine Abbey. The 16th century church is built on the Norman foundations of an earlier church. The building fell into ruin in the 18th century when the roof collapsed but in 1836 it was rescued and restored by local architect Harvey Eginton.
Bestowed to CCT in 1979 after its congregation declined, St. Lawrence Church today welcomes over 40,000 visitors a year from all over the UK and beyond.
John Goom of John Goom Architects in Evesham will oversee the work to the church.