Matthew Buckmaster, Head Verger
Currently weekdays in church are accompanied by the percussive tap, tap, tap of tile conservators working in and around the Chancel crossing. Douglas and Andy, who work for the company Cliveden Conservation, are lifting and resealing floor tiles that have come loose as the mortar that has held them down for the last 200 years has degraded away. This is further exacerbated as the tiles have expanded and contracted due to temperature changes over the years, allowing dust and small bits of stone gravel to get in underneath the tiles.
As always there are more planned conservation projects in the coming months. We are looking forward to the spring when work will hopefully begin on restoring the 18th century churchyard wrought- and cast-iron gates. There are also significant projects elsewhere in church with work planned for the roof, bell tower and west window.
While all this vital work takes place creative solutions are planned to enable normal church life to continue and minimise disruption wherever possible. We hope the tiles will be completed within the next 2 weeks.
