Case studies

Our immediate goal was to replace the old blown-air heating system that had failed and provide suitable heating for the building and its users. After careful consideration of the options⁴, a gas fired, water-based underfloor heating system was installed in the void beneath the pews, choir stalls and west end floor.

In order to save money, the preparation of the building, which included the clearance of the pews and lifting of the floor, was carried out by volunteers and fortuitously coincided with a 4-day Time Team visit and assessment in mid June 2023. This attracted many people from the community keen to help with the project. It also generated considerable specialist interest in the building and its early Priory and enabled greater archaeological access; consequently, it has created a better understanding of the origins of what now appears to be a significant early Norman church rather than 14th century as originally thought. These findings will also increase the interest and appeal of the building, particularly with Time Team’s international web-based coverage.

The preparation for the heating involved removing the wooden platforms and rotten joists sitting above bare earth and installing a damp proof membrane, insulation, screed and kilometres of underfloor heating pipes before laying over 300 sq m of new English stone flooring in these areas. At the same time, investigative work, overseen by an archaeologist, was carried out on the transept floor to resolve historic damp issues and assess its suitability for underfloor heating. Unfortunately, the removal of the pew bases and works traffic destabilised the sub base for the aisles and the ancient stones had to be lifted and relaid as well, which put further pressure on the budget. However, this greatly improved the finished look and enabled a level floor to be created across the church.

In order to improve adaptability, the fixed seating was modified by reducing the number of pews, making the remaining mobile, by incorporating free standing feet, and introducing additional oak chairs. The choirs stalls were also retained, restored and redesigned to make them mobile. This enables a wide range of layouts for the building from a clear floor space for exhibitions and events through to seating for up to 400 people for concerts or services.

A range of works to improve access and use of the building were implemented, starting at the entrance. As the first point of contact with the church, the porch has considerable significance as a welcoming space to draw people into the building. The porch with failed plaster and poor lighting was unwelcoming and the large step down into the church restricted access for pushchairs and those with mobility issues. Therefore the threshold step into the church was repositioned and the porch floor was relaid with a gentle incline from the outer doors so as to create a new level threshold at the inner doors. The old pine, inner doors were replaced with glass doors enabling light to flood into the church. New LED lighting with PIR motion sensors was installed in the porch and the walls were replastered and redecorated.

Inside the church, the damaged walls and ceilings were repaired and rendered where necessary All the walls and ceilings were redecorated with a clay based paint. The dated electrical circuits, were rewired with new floor sockets positioned at the base of the pillars along with AV connections. At high level, a reliable, energy efficient lighting system was installed to deliver good levels of lighting throughout the church, as well as highlighting architectural features and providing specialist lighting for concerts and other events.

The removal of the pews and pew bases highlighted the stunning architecture of the building with the tall, slender Norman columns that had been truncated by the pews. It also allowed the light to flood into the centre of the building, creating a much brighter environment. Investigative work in the transept highlighted that the Victorian reordering in the 1840s had been thorough and there were no relics or burials in the immediate sub floor. This was confirmed by Time Team, who were able to carry out a ground penetrating radar survey of the transept and establish that any remains and tombs were at a much lower level. Therefore, following a further Faculty submission and approval , most of the transept and chancel aisle was lifted for the installation⁵ of insulation and underfloor heating; fortunately, the floor slabs were relaid which limited additional expenditure. This additional work, the relaying of the aisles and a slower than anticipated drying time for the screed delayed the completion date to early December 2023.

During the excavation of the chancel aisle, a piece of medieval tile was unearthed showing the wings of a griffon. Tiles of this design are usually found in major churches and rarely in rural churches, so is thought to show the significance of the church and the town in medieval times. The tile has been incorporated into a graphic of a griffon and placed into the floor under glass, close to where it was found.

Following careful management of the budget and further local fund raising, sufficient funds were available to install a new kitchen and a wide range of appliances were also acquired following a generous donation. Faculty restrictions directed that the kitchen should not look like a kitchen and so the frontal incorporated previous pew backs, painted to match the organ pipe colour, the sinks had removable counter tops and the taps were retractable and hidden.

The electrical work on the church was beset with problems. Unfortunately, due to the delays in the faculty process, the preferred electrical contractors were unable to take on the work and so, after a due diligence, a local company was appointed. After initial decommissioning work, the company was affected by long term sickness which created delays and eventually led to a sister company taking on the work. Although a revised schedule was agreed, it quickly became apparent that, despite many reassurances, poor management and shortage of manpower would lead to further delays, impacting other trades and leaving the church without heating or lighting during the winter months. Power was eventually restored just before Christmas, heating in mid January and basic lighting in late February 2024. The full lighting system was completed in April but a number of issues with the lights and accounting still have yet to be resolved.

Owing to budget limitations there were a number of small jobs that still need to be completed, notably the replacement of the toilet flooring and the creation of a storage area for chairs and tables. In November 2024 the toilet floor was replaced and part of a recent legacy is being used to create the storage area and is likely to be in place by Easter 2025.

A soft opening of the church in late January 2024 enabled services to be held using limited lighting and restricted kitchen facilities. A full opening for the town with a deputy Lord Lieutenant and other VIPS in attendance was held on Palm Sunday on 24 March 2024. Immediately the building was used for numerous church events ranging from regular services to a wedding, school Easter service, funeral and wake, and a memorial service. It was also quickly re-roled for multiple secular events providing cream teas, an international fund raiser, concert venue and a counselling service location. It has proved particularly popular as a music venue with 5 different choral groups giving performances, one with a large choir and orchestra and an audience over 200 people.

⁴ Heating Options Study
⁵ Faculty Approval