Identifying what’s needed
All Saints’ Church is a Grade One listed building reflecting its unique architectural and historical importance. Its structure is over 800 years old and although it bears its age well, there are inevitable changes taking place which must be addressed if the building is to be kept in good condition for future generations.
As with any building, wind, rain, frost and ice all have their effect. The atmosphere itself plays a part in the form of changes in rain acidity, air quality and pollution. The very earth moves under it! The stone itself undergoes long term changes, usually in response to outside conditions but also by its own composition and the impurities within it. Bits fall off, they break and crumble or just decay as a natural process. Vegetation in the form of lichen and Ivy can damage the stonework.
And, of course, we ourselves have a major impact on the church. We move in it, we touch it, we breathe in it, we add bells which shake it. Sometimes
we add bits on, alter it, knock bits out and from time to time repair it, hopefully giving due deference to its great age and meaning. In addition, we
demand a different experience from those who built it. We want warmth, light, a clean space, seating and other features more suited to our century
rather than the 14th.
A constant watch is kept on the building and its surrounds by the Church’s Fabric Committee. A record is made of all the work that needs to be done
(and funded), priorities established and progress monitored. Every 5 years a ‘Quinquennial Inspection’ is undertaken by a specialist architect, who
examines the whole building in detail and produces a report on the state of the Church. It specifies what work needs to be done and recommends
time scales for completion.
All repairs, additions and modifications are done in keeping with the architectural and historical integrity of the building. Work is undertaken by
specialist craftspeople who utilise suitable materials and techniques. Masons, builders and glaziers carry on a tradition of hand crafting which has
changed little over the centuries. Electrical work and plumbing is carried out by people with specialist knowledge of the sensitivities of working with
ancient structures. Naturally, all this has an impact on the cost of maintaining the building and on the time it takes to plan and complete any work.
That is why time and funding are such constant themes when we try to keep the church standing!