Progress report – 1st July 2022
As part of the continuing removal and clearance of the church, the wall memorials have now been taken down. In some cases, like the grand memorial to Edward Cotton previously at the west end of the north wall, this is not just a case of taking the memorial down but carefully dismantling it, then storing the various elements separately and finally restoring them to appropriate positions. The Cotton memorial will be replaced on the north wall – but more centrally in the church.
The memorials are carefully wrapped and stored in the south porch, which is piled high with well wrapped floor memorials, smaller items like the pillars from this memorial and even the font.
Careful removal of the floor around the vault in the chancel continues, revealing a brick surround. The vault will be covered with a concrete slab for safety and the position marked discretely at floor level.
Progress on other fronts is being made too – we have donations now for fifteen chairs and have just placed our first order for chairs. Please continue to support this special appeal and also look at our organ appeal to help bring the church to life when restored.
Although the building itself is closed, worship continues in The Cornerstone on Sundays (8am, 9.30 and 11.15) and on weekdays (Tuesday and Wednesday at 10 am and Thursday at 9 am) and the bell ringers have access to the tower.
There is still access to almost all the churchyard either through the lychgate in London Road or the double gate in Norreys Avenue. The memorials by The Cornerstone can be accessed from the Cornerstone south hall so long as that is not in use. The only recent memorials that are only accessible by special arrangement are those by the vestry door. Please contact the Parish office if you would like to visit one on a special day.
