Caring for a 900-Year-Old Church
St Michael & All Angels has stood in the centre of village life for nearly nine centuries. Keeping a building like this standing is never a matter of simply fixing things when they break. Old churches need constant care, regular inspection and the skills of specialist craftspeople who understand how historic buildings were made.
Every generation has left its mark on St Michael’s. The Normans built the south doorway, medieval masons added the tower and chancel, seventeenth-century parishioners repaired the font and bells, and Victorian restorers reshaped the interior. Our own generation has inherited the responsibility of making sure the church remains safe, beautiful and usable for the future.
What the Surveys Found
Every five years, churches undergo a formal quinquennial inspection. This is a detailed survey carried out by a specialist architect to identify problems before they become serious.
Our most recent inspection showed that the east wall of the chancel needed urgent attention.
The coping stones at the top of the wall had open joints, allowing water to penetrate. Cracks had begun to appear in the stonework above the east window and the upper part of the wall was starting to bulge. Left untreated, the structure of the wall could eventually have been at risk.
The inspection also identified problems with the stone tracery in the east window and with the mullions in the north nave window. Rainwater running down the face of the wall had gradually worn away the carved stonework over many years.
The Repairs
The repair work was carried out by local stonemason Stephen Anstey and his team, working under the supervision of architect Mark Parsons.
The coping stones along the top of the east wall were reset or replaced where necessary, and the masonry above the east window was carefully repointed to prevent further water from entering the structure.
One of the most delicate parts of the project involved the stone tracery around the east window. The carved stone had weathered badly and needed replacement, but removing the glass would have been costly and risky.
Instead, the tracery was carefully measured and the damaged outer face of the stone was removed from the outside, right down to the glass. New stonework was then hand carved to match the original profiles exactly and fixed into place around the existing glass. The glass itself remained untouched throughout the work and was professionally cleaned afterwards.
The north nave window was repaired in a similar way, with carefully cut stone indents shaped to match the existing mullions.
Watching the tracery being removed and replaced without a single piece of glass being damaged was, as one of our church members put it at the time, “truly remarkable”.
Beyond the Building
The conservation project extended beyond the church walls themselves. The churchyard was also improved to make it more welcoming for visitors and better for wildlife.
Diseased ash trees were removed, new paths created and seating added. Hazels, Rowans, Crab Apples and Oaks have been planted to provide food and shelter for birds and other wildlife once they are established. Wildflower areas, bug hotels, hedgehog houses and log piles were also added to encourage biodiversity.
The result is a churchyard that works in several ways at once: a peaceful place for reflection, a practical space for visitors and the local community, and a richer habitat for wildlife. The project formed an important part of the church’s journey towards its Eco Church Silver Award, achieved in 2024.
providing shelter and habitat for the insects, mammals and birds that make the churchyard their home.
The result is a space that works on several levels at once: a peaceful spot for visitors and the local community, a haven for wildlife, and a practical expression of our Eco Church commitment to caring for the natural world alongside the built one. We achieved our Eco Church Silver Award in 2024, and the churchyard development is central to our continuing journey.
Our Principles
Caring for a historic building is not simply about making it look tidy. It means understanding how it was built, respecting the materials used by earlier generations and making repairs that are honest, sympathetic and built to last.
Throughout this project we tried to support local craftspeople and businesses wherever possible. We also tried to balance quality, sustainability and cost, recognising that good conservation work should protect both the building and the wider environment.
When St Michael’s was restored in 1907, the vicar, Rev. T. S. Hatfield, said that the work should proceed on the principle of “not touching any stone that could safely remain in its place.” More than a century later, that remains a good description of how we care for the church today.
Thank You
This work was made possible through the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, National Lottery players, local donors, volunteers and the wider community.
Many people contributed time, money, skills and encouragement to the project. Community events, fundraising, volunteer work and individual donations all played a part.
Caring for a building like St Michael’s is never finished. Each generation inherits it, repairs what it can, and passes it on. Our recent conservation project is only the latest chapter in that long story.
If you would like to support the ongoing care of St Michael & All Angels, donations can be made via [link for our patronage fund]. Every contribution, however small, helps preserve this building for the future.