Throughout Lent in St Lawrence Church yours truly kept watch, from the window sill, over the bag of coins hung on the Lent Cross. You will recall that Grandma Mouse had upset the Vicar by eating the chocolate money stored away from last year. Well, after Easter we thought to give Grandma another treat. The poor old mouse broke her last remaining tooth on the money which turned out to be real coins - what sweet revenge!

There was lots of fun with the children's Easter Egg Hunt in and around the church. Luckily they lost count and somehow didn't find every one that had been hidden. A certain elderly mouse has a big, though toothless, grin on her face. How so, I hear you cry. I couldn't possibly comment - my lips are sealed.

There has been a site meeting between all the experts who are going to work on Stage 1 of the North Wall Project. The Architect, Structural Engineer, Quantity Surveyor, Archaeologist and Rectified Photographer met with members of the Restoration Appeal Committee. They are organising the work to be done this summer, how to get equipment on the site and where to store it. Most importantly the Archaeologist is going to make some preliminary investigations to try to assess whether the main piling and trenches to accommodate the underground beams will disturb any hitherto undisturbed graves.

The rectified photography will record every single stone in the wall which has to be removed. When the stones have been replaced in exactly the same position, the beams will be hidden in between the two skins and the wall will look exactly as it has for over 800 years.

Everyone will get the chance to adopt their own numbered stone and watch it being returned to its original position at the end of the Stage 2 Construction next year. Folk can also adopt a mouse if they wish since we will have to look sharp when the builders start disturbing our runs.

There are lots of great ideas to involve everyone in our fundraising and have a bit of fun at the same time.

Remember to watch this space for news from your old friend The Church Mouse who is always on the case.

1 April 2008.

Lifeline to help rescue church

The Journal has reported the funding that English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund has pledged £25,000 to pay for preparatory work for the major scheme to halt the lean of the church's north wall.

"A lifeline was thrown yesterday to help prevent the collapse of an ancient church in one of Northumberland’s prettiest villages.

The Church of St Lawrence in Warkworth was built in the early 12th Century on the site of an earlier Saxon building.

But the north wall of the nave was built on around 50 feet of sandy deposits near the River Coquet and it has been gradually leaning outwards."

Click on the picture to the left for the full article.

7 March 2008.

Villagers Reap Their Rewards

The Journal has featured Warkworth in an article about this years winners in the Northumbria in Bloom competition.

St.Lawrence Church was also mentioned in the article which gave a focus to the Church Restoration Appeal.

"Warkworth scored a hat-trick with best large village and most attractive front garden. There was also a boost for its Church of St Lawrence, which is in need of urgent help as its Norman north wall of the 1130s is leaning outwards and in danger of collapse. Repairs will cost £500,000 and the church has launched an appeal."

Click on the picture to the left for the full article.

11 September 2007.

Church Times - Heritage Body: Churches Falling Apart

St. Lawrence Church, Warkworth was reported in the Church Times following a report by English Heritage on the 'Buildings At Risk' Register for 2007.

"...one of the buildings at 'immediate risk of further rapid deterioration or loss of fabric; no solution agreed'...is the medieval St.Lawrence’s, Warkworth, in Northumberland."

Click on the picture to the left for the full article.

3 August 2007.