It’s been another whirlwind 12 months at FoFC. We completed over £3m of repairs on 15 churches, we saved four more churches, we managed to have one church removed from the Heritage at Risk register, and we rescued one hoglet in the heatwave.
It’s the support of our members and donors that makes all this possible – so thank you for supporting FoFC.
By July of 2022, we had completed 8 plastering projects, laid new drainage at 7 churches, re-roofed 6 churches, undertaken glazing repairs at 5 churches, mended floors at 4 churches, and re-instated a wood-graining scheme at one church. Phew!
Not bad going for a team of one full-time and one part-time member of staff!
As well as repairs, we were delighted to be able to save four more churches. These are: St Mary's, Kenderchurch in Herefordshire; St Andrew's, South Runcton in Norfolk; St Deiniol's, Worthenbury in Wrexham; and St Giles's, Tadlow in Cambridgeshire.
Note: some of these churches aren't on our website just yet, as we are finalising details of transfer.
Since the summer, we've been busy in Wales, where we have two major repair projects underway and four minor works. At St Michael & All Angels', Gwernesney in Monmouthshire, we are undertaking structural repairs to the chancel, re-roofing the church, raking out cement pointing from the lovely Old Red Sandstone walls and repointing in a soft lime mortar. At St Peulan's, Llanbeulan on Anglesey, we are mending the roof, laying new drainage and preparing the render the west gable in lime mortar.
Elsewhere, thanks to a minor repairs grant from Cadw, we are undertaking:
Our most sincere thanks to all the excellent consultants, contractors and craftspeople we work with, who enable us to undertake such great work.
Having St Andrew's, Wood Walton in Cambridgeshire removed from the Heritage at Risk register was a personal highlight. As was taking Trustees on a tour of 12 completed projects in July.
At one church, we encountered a tiny hedgehog in the baking hot earth. After taking some advice, he was delivered to a wildlife hospital. At just six weeks old, he was tiny, dehydrated and had a nasty infection. We're pleased to report he's doing much better now.
The below is a slideshow of images taken over the two years of the Culture Recovery Fund - to record all that has been achieved.
