Conservation work commences on vandalised window at St Mary's Church, Washbrook after fundraising target met
© Devlin Plummer Stained Glass Ltd
The Churches Conservation Trust is delighted to announce that the fundraising goal for the repair of the Historic Church Window in Washbrook has been successfully achieved.
On 5th February we announced the appeal to raise funds to repair an important historic window at St Mary’s Church in Washbrook, Suffolk. Senseless vandalism had caused significant damage to its Gothic stained glass, leaving part of the window broken and vulnerable. Urgent repairs were needed to prevent further loss to this peaceful and much-loved rural church, just outside Ipswich.
© Devlin Plummer Stained Glass Ltd
Hundreds of visitors enjoy visiting the Grade II listed St Mary’s Church every year, appreciating the rich historic detail, including fine stone carvings, elegant window tracery, canopied stalls, a piscina, sedilia and an Easter Sepulchre.
We received a remarkable response to this appeal, reaching the fundraising target in just 19 days. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of individual donors and the local community, CCT conservators were able to commission Devlin Plummer Stained Glass Ltd to start work on the project. Devlin Plummer are Norfolk based specialists in the craft of design, conservation and restoration of stained glass windows. From their studios in South Norfolk, they have undertaken work on over 500 churches, cathedrals and public buildings throughout Norfolk, the UK and Europe, including the recent window repair at St Peter's Church in Claydon.
© Devlin Plummer Stained Glass Ltd
Specialised staff from Devlin Plummer Stained Glass have carried out the very delicate task of dismantled the damaged section of the window at the line of the third saddle bar, cutting the copper ties and easing the lead cement back to allow controlled removal. The panel was then lifted out as a complete unit, supported on a rigid board to prevent flexing. The adjacent panels above remained fully supported by existing saddle bars and ties. After the windowless section was boarded up at the church, the skilled conservators took the removed panel back to the studio where they took a rubbing to use as a template before dismantling the pieces. Damaged and missing panes of glass will be replaced with coloured matched glass and leadwork replaced before refitting the section in the south nave.
CCT extends its heartfelt thanks to all who contributed to the campaign, which is a vital step in ensuring this charming rural church, loved by the local community and hundreds of visitors every year, can stay open and appreciated for generations to come.
Date written: 30th April 2026