Phase 1 was completed in early 2004:

1. A new Heating System.
2. A new Sound System & Hearing Loop.
3. New Outer Doors.
4. Disabled Ramp & Handrails.
5. Repositioning of the Altar & Altar Rails.

Project 1 was completed in December 2005:

1. Repair and renew the floor at the Crossing
2. Realign the pulpit to improve sightlines between the altar and congregation.
3. Installed lighting over the East - West public footpath through the Churchyard.
4. Improve Fire Escape, Bridge & Footpath from Priest's Door in Chancel.
5. Repair Rose Window.

This work has made St. Lawrence Church a much more welcoming, inclusive and comfortable place in which to worship and work.

The Future

Following receipt of the Quinquennial Report in 2004, the Restoration Appeal Fund Committee and Parochial Church Council reviewed the work to be carried out in the immediate and longer-term future and divided it into three Projects. The first two projects are complete – see ‘Progress so Far’.

Project 3

Shortly after the tower was added in the 13th Century, two buttresses were built at the west end of the north wall, presumably to prevent lateral movement. The Church is built on alluvial sand & clay with hard sandstone bedrock some 20 metres down. Medieval foundations were very shallow – the north wall is built upon a line of boulders about a metre down. The Victorian roof beams are longer in the centre of the nave than at the east and west ends.

The north wall continues to rotate outwards and further movement must be arrested to prevent an irrecoverable situation being reached.

This massive Project will take several years to complete and will require a fundraising effort far beyond our immediate hinterland of well wishers. We have raised substantial funds to complete the work to date, but hereafter will need to appeal to National and International sources of Grant Aid. Since some of this will be on a matched funding basis, it remains crucial to our success that local initiatives and efforts are maintained and increased to allow work to continue unhindered into the future.

Investigative Work on the North Wall has been completed.

1. Core drilling into wall.
2. Trial pits at base of wall.
3. Boreholes in Churchyard.
4. High level inspection of north wall and top of arcade of pillars.

Result of the investigation:

1. The wall is in a parlous condition.
2. Rotational movement is continuous and potentially progressive.
3. Centre is 490mm out of true since it was built in the 12th century.
4. Movement since 1968 is 49mm.
5. Urgent action necessary.

St. Lawrence Church has been placed on the English Heritage 2007 ‘Buildings at Risk’ Register. Stage 1 Project Development is planned for 2008. This includes a Rectified Photography Survey and very detailed measurement of the wall and arcade.

Construction Works.

The Stage 2 work is planned for 2009. Reinforced concrete beams will be inserted into the vertical pilasters, joining up with a new horizontal beam inside the wall. Concrete pads in churchyard supported by piles will be joined under ground with the vertical beams. The detailed work required and hence the cost is likely to change during Stage 1, but work MUST be started within two years.

Funding - How Much?

The estimated cost of £516,000 is subject to the results from Stage 1 Project Development. English Heritage has awarded us a grant of £25,000 towards Stage 1 and an 'in principle' £275,000 towards Stage 2. This total of £300,000 is a massive indication of the importance and urgency of this Project.

With what we have raised to date, together with the eventual refund of VAT we are left with a shortfall of £70,000.

We are applying to other Grant Aid Bodies and of course continuing our local and Parish efforts.

Please help us to raise this money in 2008 in time to save our wonderful Church.