Over the years, parts of the building deteriorated and were in need of vital repairs. The National Trust has embarked on a project to restore the church and rescue it from further decline. Read about the work we’ve done so far to ensure this unique church stays standing for many more years to come.
Starting with the stone
By 2014, the external stonework needed essential mortar repairs to prevent water damage to the building. We repointed the stonework using lime and earth based pigments, in-keeping with the original mortar used in the construction of the building. The mortar needed to be dried slowly and protected from frost, so we timed these repairs carefully to ensure the best result.
Several areas of stonework were badly eroded and needed replacing altogether, so we built a scaffold in order to fully restore these areas of stonework. This also allowed us to replace some of the lead in the string course – the horizontal bands you can see between stones.
More recently, the church walls have undergone repairs, which you can see as you wander the churchyard.