Felmersham Church - Restoration

Since 1975 the parish has made great efforts to restore the parish church of St Mary so that it continues as a centre for prayer and worship and as a focus for the life of the parish. Generous financial help has also been received from those who believe that a medieval building is worth preserving for the enjoyment of this and future generations. Grants have been received from English Heritage, Beds and Herts Historic Churches Trust, Francis Coales Charitable Trust and other grant agencies. Over the past thirty years the following major restoration work has been achieved.
1975: Lead on the nave roof recast and re-laid;
1978: Tower restored;
1980: Chancel roof lined and retiled;
1984: South aisle roof re-leaded;
1987-88: South transept restored and re-tiled;
1989: South porch restored;
1991: Restoration of the West Front;
1992: Internal decoration.
1999: All 8 clerestory windows restored. The north chancel wall and 25% of south chancel wall re-pointed.
1999: the north aisle parapet reconstructed on the back face.
1999: Plastic pipes and gutters replaced with cast iron on chancel and north transept.
1999: North transept roof retiled and breathable membrane fitted under the tiles. String coarse replaced.
2000: Lightening conductors fitted to the tower.
2000: New stone path from the lytch gate to the south porch.
2000: Millennium window fitted and window stonework restored.
? Boiler space made safe by choir stalls made safe.
? Where necessary, floor pavers replaced in the nave. Carpet runners removed.
? South porch floor repaired and lifted to allow for wheel chair access.

Recent restoration work commenced in October 1999 and the schedule of works included: The restoration of the 8 clerestory windows, pointing the north and south nave walls, repairing the north aisle parapet, re-tiling the north transept roof, pointing the north transept north wall and repairing the string course. Repairing the stone work around the Chancel door and the nearby string course and the stonework around the Memorial Chapel east window now referred to as the Millennium Window.

The cost of the project was £43,229 and funding was as follows: English Heritage: £30,300 (70%); Francis Coales Charitable Foundation: £2,000; Beds and Herts Historic Churches Trust: £2,000; Historic Churches Preservation Trust: £450; Funds raised in the parish: £8,479.

Working on the north transept

Fitting the felt and tiling battens

Working on the north transept

The restored north face of the north transept

The stone masons interpretation of Victor Farrar, the church architect.

The restored south clerestory windows and stone work

Replacing the plastic guttering and down pipes with cast iron
on the chancel and north transept

Restoring the Memorial Chapel east window.
The tinted glass was removed and re-glazed with a
vibrant new design of stained glass known as the millennium window.

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