With the exciting cycle race in Suffolk this week, Trust volunteers were there to encourage supporters to get involved in our own Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride fundraiser on Saturday 13th September.
Our stand (photo by Trust Chairman, Geoffrey Probert)
Jill Taylor (Hon Secretary, SHCT) had a good day – even with the rain in Stowmarket:
“There were lots of people to talk to and I gave out several leaflets including to people who have done it in the past. I didn’t get wet until walking back to my car when it bucketed! It was quite windy at times but the gazebo was fine. I was given a cap and a flag and managed to get home before they came through Bildeston and closed the road.”
How did a successful fundraising idea in Suffolk, thought up by, among others, an Aldeburgh lady, Frances Parkinson, spread across the country so that this year, thirty counties will take part?
The Suffolk Historic Churches Trust started the annual Sponsored Bike Ride around churches (now known as Ride and Stride) in 1981 and has many long-serving supporters, who have taken part either as church volunteers welcoming people as they journey, or cycling and now, walking or running. It is always held on the second Saturday in September.
A retired police officer and now a well-known beekeeper, Steve Barrett, from Kessingland, Suffolk, whose honey is used by celebrated chef, Raymond Blanc, was involved in those early days and helped to make it an annual event.
Image: Rev Natalie Rees, Steve Barrett and Simon Ronan at St Edmunds church at Kessingland, as Steve is presented with a Long Service Certificate.
“In the 1980’s I was the village policeman at Kessingland and I took part in every sponsored bike ride that I could. I was a 26-year-old fit policeman when I was approached by Frances Parkinson who asked if I would be an ambassador for the Trust and take messages to Bishops in various counties. I loved old churches and admired the work Frances did. She was a real can-do person and when she had a bee in her bonnet, she would get things done. As the day of the Ride approached, she asked me to take a message to the Bishop in Hastings to encourage the county of Kent to take part in the ride.
“I started from Kessingland at about 7.30 in the morning and cycled to the Dartford Tunnel where they then had a lorry that took bikes across, while the rider would sit in the cab with the driver. We got safely to the other side and it wasn’t long until I was cycling through the village of Battle where I stopped at the pub for a beer. The local vicar was also there and spotted the Trust stickers on my bike and complimented on taking part – and on my long ride that day from Suffolk!”
The next year Frances asked Steve to do the same for the county of Oxford.
“She had arranged overnight accommodation first with ‘Rick the Vic’ at Bury St Edmunds and I had a good night there and I even had a go at playing the cathedral organ. In Oxfordshire I stayed with the High Sheriff and I remember she had a butler who ran me a bath before I met the great and good of Oxford where I told them about the Suffolk Historic Churches Trust and what they did.”
Steve’s final mission was to take messages to the Leicester, cycling there in a day from Kessingland church.
“I was tasked with singing the praises of our work with local cyclists and the money they raised to help maintain our lovely churches. Frances was a big player in the Historic Churches Trust, especially in Suffolk, and wanted to get the messages out to all the other counties and her keenness to do all that shows how successful they are today. I am very proud to be part of it.”
The Chairman of the Suffolk Historic Churches Trust Ride and Stride Committee, Simon Ronan, recently presented a Long Service Certificate to Steve Barrett to thank him for his support over so many years. (Steve’s bike is a handmade Claud Butler, in beautiful condition, and, over 40 years old).
In Suffolk alone, last year £200,000 was raised by this one-day event. This year, on Saturday 13th September from 9am-5pm, individuals, families and groups of friends, will cycle, run or walk between some of the five hundred or so Suffolk churches taking part. Sponsored for their journey, they chose their own route, visiting as many or as few churches as they feel able, and often meet up with others along the way. The event is open to all.
This year our celebrity supporter is Ipswich Town Football Club, supporting our local community and our Suffolk heritage.
ITFC Ambassadors, Simon Milton, Matt Holland and Peter Over, met Simon Ronan, the chairman of Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride, and Sarah Milner, the Ipswich Area Organiser at Portman Road Football Ground (photo: Chris Bedwell)
Details of how to take part in Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride can be found only clicking HERE or from local churches. Half of the money raised is given in grants by the Trust to churches for restoration and repairs, and half of their donations/sponsorship can be donated to a chosen church by the cyclist, walker or runner. A car rally, Pedal and Drive, is held on the same day and is open to vintage and classic cars. Click HERE for more details of how to take part.
Congratulations to the eleven Suffolk churches who have been successful in being awarded grants from Suffolk Historic Churches Trust quarterly meeting in June 2025. A total of £55,750 was allocated.
All Saints church, Crowfield (photo; Rachel Sloane)
They are:
Ashbocking, All Saints Window refurbishment
Bildeston, St Mary Window and tower repairs
Crowfield, All Saints Drainage, masonry and sole plate renewal
Debenham, St Mary Replacement heating system
Eyke, All Saints Footpath resurfacing
Henley, St Peter Tower repairs
Little Bealings, All Saints Window repairs
Parham, St Mary Re-roofing
Stratford St Mary, St Mary Replace tower pinnacles
Stuston, All Saints Window repairs
Westhorpe, St Margaret Window repairs
The next Grants meeting will be held on 13th October 2025. Click HERE for details of how to apply.
Walkers, cyclists, runners and vintage or classic car owners are invited to sign up to join others who love Suffolk and its history, at the annual September event, organised by Suffolk Historic Churches Trust. This year’s Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride and Pedal and Drive event, on Saturday 13th September, has been launched with the help of some Ipswich Town Football Club legends, now Ambassadors to the Club.
ITFC Ambassadors, Simon Milton, Matt Holland and Peter Over, met Simon Ronan, the chairman of Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride, and Sarah Milner, the Ipswich Area Organiser at Portman Road Football Ground (photo: Chris Bedwell)
The ITFC Ambassadors, Simon Milton, Matt Holland and Peter Over, met Simon Ronan, the chairman of Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride, and Sarah Milner, the Ipswich Area Organiser at Portman Road for a photo shoot in the ground and to show their support for this annual event.
The team then went to St Mary at Stoke church, Ipswich, to help promote Pedal and Drive, a sister event to Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride, for vintage and classic cars. They were joined by Jono Benson’s Rolls Royce, and Rev. Kay Palmer.
They were joined by Jono Benson and his Rolls Royce, and Rev Kay Palmer at St Mary at Stoke church, Ipswich (photo: Chris Bedwell)
Last year, the day’s fundraising raised £200,000 and, from the proceeds, the Suffolk Historic Churches Trust gives grants to Suffolk’s historic churches, chapels and meeting houses who need to make urgent repairs or improvements to their buildings.
On Ride and Stride Day, Saturday 13th September, the cyclists, and walkers get sponsored for their journey around some of Suffolk’s wonderful churches, choosing their own route, long or short. Half their fundraise goes to the Trust and half to the cyclists/walkers/runners chosen church.
Also, on the same day, Suffolk Churches Pedal & Drive, a vintage and classic car rally is held, with around 100 cars visiting a range of churches on a mystery quiz.
Sponsor forms are now available in Suffolk churches, and from the Trust. Full details are on the Trust website. Donations and sponsorship can also be collected via Just Giving.
“This is a wonderful day out with family and friends, to enjoy the Suffolk countryside, and to fundraise and help preserve our heritage in both town and country, of churches of all denominations,” said Simon Ronan, the Chairman of Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride. “Please come and enjoy the day, soak up the fresh air, enjoy the history of your locality, or even further afield. Seek out your generous friends and colleagues to sponsor you and support your efforts!”
Thousands of people across the country will take part in this event, which began in Suffolk in 1982. Over 500 Suffolk churches are involved and most are open to welcome participants with refreshments. As they journey on the route they have chosen, cyclists, walkers and runners will meet others taking part including families, local history lovers, church supporters and those who just enjoy an annual trip around the villages and towns of Suffolk.
A list of churches that are open is available on this Trust website, (click HERE), and from participating Suffolk churches. Cyclists and walkers can choose whichever churches they wish, and runners and disability scooters are welcome too. A photography competition for participants will also be held on the day and details are on the Trust website.
More details are available from SHCT Bike Ride Local Organisers, emailing shct@btconnect.com, phoning 01787 883884, or click HERE
We have our own Just Giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/suffolk-churches-ride-and-stride-2025to enter the Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride 2025 page on the JustGiving website, where you can log into your account and donate. If you are unfamiliar with JustGiving, it is easy to set up your own online JustGiving page by selecting “Sign up” on the top right of the page and entering the details requested. Please ensure that the place of worship you wish to benefit is clearly specified.
Here is some advice from Norman Kelly if you wish to set up your own Just Giving page for Ride and Stride……
Fundraising with Just Giving
Open page https:/JustGiving.com
If this is your first time you will need to set up a Just Giving account (your e-mail and a password)
After you click on Start Fundraising; then select Raising for a Charity.
You will then get a search box to identify the Charity: type in Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride 2025.
The next page select Just Fundraising:
Next question is Are you fundraising for an occasion: Click Skip
Next page asks How much are you hoping to raise: Enter your target
The next page asks you to personalise your page. This is where you add your story as to why you are raising money for SHCT and your local church which receives 50%. (Guidance is offered)
You will then be asked to customise your Web URL ie the Internet link to the page you have just created. Your choice of what to add after JustGiving/page
There is a photo pre supplied but if you want to add your own you can upload it on this page
Next Page Summary and then Launch.
Immediately it will ask you to make a donation to the page you have just created (your choice)
Just Giving is very naughty and automatically adds 17.5% as a “tip” to Just Giving. There is a sliding bar on this page where you can reduce it to 10%. However, there is (in blue writing) just below the sliding bar stating Enter Custom Amount. If you click on that the “tip” can be reduced to 1.5% or even eliminated.
When I send the Just Giving link to my prospective donors, I always point out that the Just Giving “tip” is not mandatory and can be reduced as I have mentioned above
Good Luck and happy fundraising for SHCT and your chosen Church.
Norman.
Thank you Norman! Here is his page is you would like to see an example:
Entry is free, but we ask that you are sponsored or get donations for your journey. (We give grants to help preserve our beautiful church buildings.) There is a Sponsorship form on this website or you can fundraise via JustGiving. CLICK HERE for details of the event.
The prize is a £50 voucher, for the best SET of THREE photos.They should be taken on Ride and Stride Day and will be of:
A church or chapel, or a church architectural detail such as a door or window.
Your favourite photo. Whatever you wish to mark about your day taking part in our event
A selfie of you celebrating outside a church when you complete your journey. (Cheers, waves and excitement are encouraged!)
The submitted photos may be used for publicity for the Trust, encouraging others to support our work, and the photographer will be credited when any are used, but no fee is paid.
Please take your photos on Ride and Stride Day, then email (by the closing date, 20.9.2024) to shct@btconnect.com
When sending us your set of photos we need to know where each one was taken and also:
Your name email: Phone number
Your address ……………and which church are you raising funds for.
An independent judge will choose the winners. Good luck!
Winners are announced on our website and named in Ride and Stride publicity.
Nearly forty Friends of Suffolk Historic Churches Trust enjoyed a day exploring three of the county’s most interesting and diverse parish churches, each led by a knowledgeable church member.
The annual event (along with the Winter Study Day that is held at Haughley Park) gives our supporters the opportunity to learn more about church history, whilst exploring unfamiliar buildings.
All Saints, Crowfield
We began the day at All Saints, Crowfield. Walking down the track from the road, past sun-dappled spring woodland, we turned through the gateway to a breath-taking sight. This unexpected little gem, looking like a fairy-tale cottage with its partial thatched roof, really does have “the wow-factor”!
Our guide was the church Treasurer/Secretary Stewart White who told us that the church was mentioned in the Doomsday Book in 1086. In 1447 documents also mention the church, and the porch, with its carved woodwork and the doorway, date back to the 16th century. The church was listed under the parish register for nearby Coddenham in 1543, (only getting its own register in 1870).
The hammerbeam roof dates to the late 15th c and the timber chancel arch is very rare – and unique in Suffolk.
In 1674 the church was reported as ‘much decayed and ruined’ and locals as ‘backward and lawless’ …and the ongoing disagreements with Coddenham, lasted for the next ten years. As a ‘Chapel of Ease’, in 1676 the Bishop of Norwich ordered repairs to be made to Crowfield church, and that ornaments should be bought. £60 was spent – around £200,000 in today’s money.
Like so many of our churches, All Saints was rescued in Victorian times with extensive restorations paid for by Lady Middleton of nearby Shrubland Hall, in memory of her husband Sir William. The work was carried out by local builder Mr Gibbons, and three generations on, the Gibbons family still live in the village.
The bell-tower was replaced, and the boxed pews were replaced with pews with carved pew-ends (each carved with different fruit and foliage). One medieval pew end remains.
The church is Grade Two* Listed and eventually became a separate parish to Coddenham in 1923.
In 2015 a new cross was made for the top of the church roof and embedded in it is a 10p coin that will show future generations exactly when it was created.
Although the congregation is small the church is much visited as a public footpath is near, but the church has financial challenges as they cope with dry and wet rot, deathwatch beetle and incorrectly applied limewash which is cracking and will need replacing. All at a total cost of £100,000!
(The church holds a. popular three day flower festival each August Bank Holiday weekend – the theme this year is “Time’. )
St Mary’s, Coddenham
We moved on then to St Mary’s, Coddenham, an impressive Grade One Listed Church standing proudly overlooking a beautiful valley, with the old Rectory on the opposite hill. It is surrounded by one of the best wild flower sites in the country with hundreds of cowslips on the day of our visit. We were met by local guide David McDonald…. and the end of a friendly coffee morning.
We started outside and David pointed out the unusual angle of the church tower compared with the main building and explained it could either be so that north door faced the village street, or because of its hillside location. The tower was built over many years, and has a 13th century base, 14th century middle while the top is 15th century. Roman bricks can be spotted throughout the walls.
One wall has a semi-circular red brick protrusion which was the original rood screen turret, built in 1535, just five years before they were banned! The Chancel, built in the 11th and 12thcentury, was extended in the 13th and clerestory windows added – you can still see the line of the original roof.
We then moved inside St Mary’s, and admired the long chancel, the 15th century double hammerbeam roof, and the clerestory windows, which allowed light to stream into the nave. The angel heads are mostly 19th century.
You can still see the traces of pre-Reformation red paint on the pillars, along with ancient graffiti – some of 15th century knights with shields and swords.
The pulpit with a tiny door, is Jacobean on a Victorian base and was originally part of a triple-decker pulpit. The Chancel is at an angle to the nave, which could be because of the lie of the land, or could be to echo the angle of Christ’s head on the Cross.
In the Chancel is a panel from the original rood screen, carved in 1570 and there is a 14thcentury carved piscina.
This was William Dowsing’s church and six of his children were baptised here. Perhaps that was why little damage was done in St Mary’s, Coddenham when he and his Puritans rampaged through the churches across the county?
St Gregory’s, Hemingstone
We travelled finally to nearby Hemingstone, to assemble in The Hut, a Great War hut used as a much loved community building, where the WI served delicious cakes, tea and coffee to us as we ate our packed lunches.
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A complete contrast to the morning churches, St Gregory’s is a small 14th century church built of timber and flint, one of only four in Suffolk named after this saint. Our guide was local historian, Chris Codd, and she showed us the floor pattern, based on a sunrise theory, and the ‘new door’ -installed in 1530! The plain glass of the large east window was once half covered over, probably to give it strength because its expanse was supported only by its tracery. The shape of the windows show they date from 14-15th century.
As the bell chimed the hour, we were told it was one of the church’s three medieval bells, that had rung out across the village for 600 years.
On the walls of the narrow and modest church were painted texts, and over the altar were prayers hand-painted 100 years ago onto tin panels, rarely seen due to the poor state of repair.
William and Mary’s Coat of Arms are on the west wall along with the Martin hatchments, hanging inn the tower space. These were placed outside Hemingstone Hall (the family seat) following a death, and moved into the church between one and twelve months later.
Chris had kindly arranged for the heavy cover to the strong room door, with stairs leading to the bell tower and clock, to be set to one side so we could see it.
She also explained about the 1585 William Cantrel memorial and the family’s links to Framlingham Castle, Queen Elizabeth 1st, St Edmundsbury Cathedral, the Restoration, and Catholicism. A small chapel ‘Ralph’s Hole’, was built on the side of the church by Ralph Cantrell, William’s nephew, and it has a squint hole to look through. It is thought that, as it doesn’t line up with the altar as is usual, he built it so that he could abide by Queen’s order to attend the parish church, conduct his own service but still not actually enter. A good English compromise or a clever way round the rules against Catholic worship perhaps?
St Gregory’s church still has a Rood Beam, on top of which are the holes for the Great Rood etc to be attached in the past, and a hollow-sounding wall implies that a rood staircase may be hidden within it.
A lovely touch was the ‘Welcome to SHCT’ sign’ – thank you!
Indeed, thank you to everyone who made it a very special day, especially the volunteer guides and the Trust’s Education Trustee, Jamie Norman who, stuck in a plane on an Edinburgh airport runway, wasn’t able to enjoy the event he had organised.
Nine grants, totalling £52,000, were awarded to Suffolk churches by the Suffolk Historic Churches Trust at their April Grants Committee Meeting.
St Peters, Moulton (image Simon Knott)
The successful parish churches are in Beck Row, Bedingfield, Dalham, Finningham, Layham, Lidgate, Moulton, Old Newton, and Sudbourne,
St Mary’s, Bedingfield (Image Simon Knott)
The work that will be undertaken in the churches include repairs to woodwork, windows, porches and walls, and improved lighting and heating.
“Applications for grants remain buoyant confirming the continuing urgent need for churches, chapels and other places of worship to raise the funds which are essential to preserve our heritage. This quarter seven grants were made to churches in West Suffolk and two in East Suffolk.” said John Devaux, Chairman of the Grants Committee.
The grant money is raised by the annual Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride Day and the Suffolk Churches vintage and classic car rally Pedal & Drive held on the same day. This year it will be held on Saturday 13th September.
There are four Grants Meetings scheduled a year and any church, chapel or meeting house, of any denomination can apply.
Grants awarded in April 2025 were:
Beck Row, St John Repainting woodwork
Bedingfield, St Mary Repairs to porch, roof, walls
St Mary’s, Market Weston (photo provided by Richard Chatham)
£100,000 raised to restore church windows.
The completion of a major restoration project is being celebrated at St Mary’s church Market Weston, near Bury St Edmunds .
Only a few years ago some windows were held up by props but with the support of local fundraising, legacies and generous grants from charitable trusts , including the Suffolk Historic Churches Trust, the project was started.
A wonderful village appeal collected nearly £10,000 and the truly extraordinary sum of £30,000 was amassed by villager Gerry Smith baking cakes, sausage rolls and selling hanging baskets.
The Open Day event together with a display of historical records is timed to coincide with the 20000 spring bulbs in flower in the churchyard. It takes place on 15th March from 11 am to 1.30pm
The restored window (photo provided by Richard Chatham)
Our Winter Study Day, held on Saturday 22nd March at Haughley Park, was attended by Friends and Supporters of the SHCT, all lovers of churches and the history behind them.
All present were welcomed by the Chairman of the Trust, Geoffrey Probert, who reminded us that the sole work of the Trust is to give grants to help communities with the upkeep of their churches, and that one day’s fundraising in September (Ride and Stride/Pedal and Drive) raises around £200,000. That event started as a sponsored bike ride in Suffolk and has been copied across the country.
At the sell-out Study Day, those attending enjoyed a full programme of four fascinating speakers and a delicious hot two course lunch.
Dr Richard Hogget.
Speaker: Dr Richard Hoggett “Changing Beliefs: The Archaeology of the East Anglian Conversion”.
Richard’s talk was based upon his PHD study and explained how archaeologists look for patterns from the artefacts discovered, often by metal detectorists, that can shed a light on the ‘dark ages’ .
He led us through stories of pagan kings who were converted to Christianity, of Raedwald and Sutton Hoo, Edwin of Northumbria, and Sigeberht who succeeded him as King of the Eastern Angles in 630AD, turning his whole East Anglian Kingdom, Christian. Missionaries came from Northern Britain and Ireland, including Bishop Felix who was given space within the Roman fort walls at Walton Castle as the centre for Christianity. The use of such buildings was a pattern repeated at Caister, Burgh and Dover and elsewhere.
Richard explained that the original churches may have been built of wood but were still important buildings, and rotten timbers can be found during excavations of later stone churches that were built upon the same foundations. Bed-burial sites have also been found that reveal the importance of wealthy women in early Christianity, who were buried with jewellery such as pendants or chokers, with designs based upon a cross.
Peter Bloore
Speaker: Peter Bloore “Medieval Chantry Colleges”
Peter began by stating he believed that the Dissolution of the Monasteries’ is over-stated and that the dissolution of Chantry Colleges had a bigger impact, because of the loss of all the charity work they undertook.
Chantries were built to commemorate the dead and were paid for, with a perpetual endowment, from wealthy benefactors who wished for prayers for their souls to be released from Purgatory so they could go into heaven. Although a community of priests lived there, they differed from monasteries as they didn’t have to give up their wealth, anmd were popular as any donated money stayed local rather than going to Rome, the buildings could be ‘branded’ with the donor’s heraldry, statues etc.
As well as the prayers, charity work such as running schools, alms-houses, hospitals etc. were part of their remit.
Usually built with a church, a gatehouse, quadrangle, cloisters, kitchens etc they were overseen by a dean, master or warden. Examples are Eton College, Oxford, Cambridge and Wincester and locally were Wingfield College and one at Mettingham.
There were 78 surviving collages in the early Tudor period. Chapel Guilds and wealthy families also built Chantry Chapels within churches such as those at Lavenham, Long Melford (now the Lady Chapel) and Dennington.
‘The Little Dissolution’ as it has been called, is when King Henry 8th, when ridding the country of Catholicism, enacted the 1545 Abolition of Chantries Act and 90 colleges, 110 hospitals, 2374 Chantry Guilds, the Chantry Chapels, Chapels of Ease, and alms-houses were sold or given to the King’s wealthy friends. Chantry churches became parish churches, private houses or were demolished.
The well-established charity work that was done by the Chantries ended, leaving the poor is desperate circumstances. It was in Elizabethan times that Charitable Foundations were created to replace that vital work… Framlingham’s Alms-houses are a good example.
Peter ended his talk by saying that Henry the 8th was responsible for “ the greatest theft against the charity sector in England” and “stole from the church to give to his rich friends and stole from the poor to give to the rich”.
Peter Stanford reading T S Eliot
Speaker: Peter Stanford “A journey around 20 extraordinary Christian sites in the British Isles”
Journalist for the Daily Telegraph, Peter Stanford, is a proud ‘church-crawler’ and was commissioned to write a book about his travels and the churches he loves. He decided to choose twenty – one for each decade.
He thinks churches give us a sense of ‘otherness’, we can enjoy their beauty and they tell us about our history. He chose nine of his twenty churches to tell us about at the Winter Study Day They included St Mary’s at Houghton on the Hill, (a remote derelict church rescued by one man and revealed, during restoration to have amazing wall paintings), and All Saints, Brixworth in Northants with its huge Anglo-Saxon arches., (and possibly the location of the first meeting of Christian church representatives).
Another church he featured was the 18th century Heptonstall Methodist Church, which was once the oldest in the world in continuous operation, ran by two elderly ladies, but now sadly closed. The 19th century St Elizabeths, Reddish, was inspired by St Mark’s in Venice and was built with grey marble brought from Italy by sea and river, before a procession led by elephants brought the marble to the site! It is now closed, looked after by one man.
Peter ended by asking why don’t we value our history more… and saying that someone has to pay for it, or it will be lost forever.
Capt Richard Channon RN (rtd)
Speaker: Capt Richard Channon RN (rtd) “A history of St Mary’s Stoke by Nayland and its recent major restoration.”
With images to show us the glory of St Mary’s, Richard said that it is a grand church in architecture, size, its site on a hill and in its connections. It was a Christian church in the 7thcentury, was mentioned in the Doomsday Book, and was painted by John Constable.
He told us of its 13th century piscina, the tower built in 1439-1462 (with the first tower staircase in the buttress), the font dated to1461, the 15th century carved oak door, and the eight medieval bells that were rehung on a steel frame in 1965.
After talking us through the wonderful tombs and monuments in the church, Richard brought us back to earth by telling the story of how they faced disaster in 2020 when a head stone fell from the top of an arch and the true state of the building was revealed, mainly because of poor repairs done in the past.
A bulging wall needed repairing and the roof re-slated all at a cost of £84,000, but gradually, as each lot of work was done, more problems were revealed, including the discovery that oak that had previously been replaced with soft wood. Restoration work finished in August 2024 and had cost £591,585.
Along the way Historic England had put St Mary’s onto the At Risk Register and a total of 23 charities (including SHCT), corporate donors and fundraising had raised the half million pounds they needed.
Then ….a final inspection revealed that the tower and nave roof needed work costing another £2 million! Now the fundraising begins again.
A sobering end to the day.
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A further report on the very successful 2025 Winter Study Day will be included in the next Friends Newsletter, written by the organiser of the day Jamie Norman.
