Stage 1 of the conservation project started on 5 November with conservators working in the St John Chapel and South Porch with completion on 14 December 2018.The Royal Coat of Arms has been removed as part of the conservation work for some tender love and care and will return next year.
The conservator team are on target to complete stage 1 of the work by 14 December 2018.The south porch will be re-plastered and the wall painting “Christ the Crown of Thorns will be virtually conserved ready for Christmas
Furthermore this month, we have been awarded grants from William & Jane Morris Fund and Idlewild Trust, reducing the shortfall in match funding to £12,000.
St. Mary’s Church Lydiard Tregoze, a vibrant working church with a dedicated vicar and regular Sunday services in the heart of the community of West Swindon & Lydiard Tregoze where continuous Christian worship has taken place for over 1100 years has received a Round 2 delivery phase grant award from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to conserve its gorgeous interiors. The project aims include conserving the buildings extensive & nationally significant medieval wall paintings, 17th Century monuments, ancient carved woodwork and star spangled ceiling.
The grant of £615,000 towards the £901,605 delivery phase will enable the church to carry out the conservation work, environmental improvements and access improvements to St Mary’s Church as well as the delivery of a specialist training programme & associated learning, volunteering and community engagement activities .
The project will restore St. Mary’s historic interiors and make it more accessible to the public with access improvements by re-opening the hidden south and creating a welcoming interpretation and activity area. The church plans a wide range of educational activities and events as well as offering training and volunteer opportunities for local people, families, school children, children’s theatre and higher education students. These will include hands on conservation workshops and skills training. Imaginative interpretation & a national symposium for professionals in the heritage and conservation sector.
The main focus of the project is the conservation of the nationally important &extensive medieval wall paintings, which have been identified by the Church of England as one of the 100 artworks currently most in need of conservation in their 100 Church Treasures Appeal The internationally acclaimed conservator Jane Rutherfoord and her team have been appointed to undertake the conservation work to the medieval wall paintings &monuments.
Project Champion, Rt. Reverend Dr Lee Rayfield, Bishop of Swindon: The National Lottery receives many deserving applications so it is particularly heartening that Swindon has once again been supported by the award of a major grant. St.Mary’s remains a national treasure and enabling us to preserve and restore its unique features continues to benefit local people as well as enriching our country’s heritage.’
Vicar St Mary’s Lydiard Tregoze Reverend Captain Clive Deverell (Area Dean) “I am delighted that we have been awarded this National Lottery grant, it will ensure families from across West Swindon will
be able to share in its worship and special history for generations to come. Also we will play our part in training a great number of future conservators of medieval Wall paintings. ”
Project Chair Paul Gardner’ It is wonderful news and we are immensely grateful to the National Lottery and very excited about taking our plans forward, especially working with the many organizations from across the town – The Friends of Lydiard Park, schools ,Swindon Art College, The Arts Society , Swindon Festival of Literature, Prime Theatre and many more – that have enthusiastically supported the project and pledged their support and involvement.’
‘We have virtually raised the match funded of £286,600 needed for this stage of the project following receipt of substantial individual donations as well as grants from a range of charities and other organisations including The Friends of Lydiard Park, Garfield Weston Foundation, West Swindon & Lydiard Tregoze Church Partnership, All Churches Trust, The Pilgrim Trust, St Andrews Conservation Trust, The Leche Trust , Wiltshire Historic Churches Trust ,The Alan Evans Memorial Trust, William & Jane Morris Fund, Idlewild Trust and continued public fund raising .I wish to thank the National Lottery whole heartedly for making this crucial award. There is now only £12000 to be raised.
Alastair Stevenson, Chair Friends of Lydiard Park:” I am immensely pleased that the National Lottery has chosen to make this substantial investment in the conservation of St. Mary’s Lydiard Tregoze. The Friends have been passionate supporters of this project, committing over £100,000 towards it thanks to the generosity of a private legacy. We look forward to seeing the conservation work begin in earnest and all the training, education and volunteering opportunities that it involves. Congratulations to St. Mary’s and grateful thanks to the National Lottery!”
Nerys Watts, Head of HLF South West, said: “Thanks to National Lottery players, people of all ages will have the chance to get involved in creating a secure and exciting future for St Mary’s Church and its incredible heritage. We are delighted to support this project.”
Over the last 5 years the church has successfully raised funds to restore the buildings structure and make it weather tight and in June 2016 year we celebrated the restoration of the 18th century Reredos . Conserving the Reredos, along with associated building works, was a £40,000 project. The work was carried out by the internationally acclaimed conservator Jane Rutherfoord.
If you wish to make a direct payment donation to support the conservation of St Marys church the BACS details are follows –
Account Name: Building Fund,
Bank: CAF Bank,
Sort Code: 40-52-40,
Account Number: 00017800,
And complete & return the attached donation form indicating that you have made a direct payment.
For further information, images, interviews and private visits please contact Paul Gardner at gp.gardner@btinternet.com or 07831868429.
30th November 2018
Friends of Lydiard Park 