The next phase of this plan is the Church Clock.

Please watch this space for more information.

Church Clock Before:

Please watch this space.

Church Clock After:

Please watch this space.

Description:

Treatment of Timbers of Nave Roof, Ceiling and Balcony, Chancel Roof, Lady Chapel Roof, Tower. Including design and construction of access walkways and insulation within the Nave Roof.

Funded by contributions including:

• Friends of St. Mary’s £3,000
• Gloucester Methodist Circuit £5,000
• PCC and various individual donations and fund raising events £7,546

Total £15,546

Explanation:

Deathwatch Beetle has infested some of the floor timbers and it is spreading. The beetle’s grubs are notorious for their very damaging wood-boring activity and can remain in timber for up to ten years before being detected as full-grown adult beetles. Therefore a timber with just a few identifiable holes can have lost over 70% of the wood content on the inside, severely reducing the timber’s strength.

Over recent years, part of the floor gave way under one of the pews in the church and revealed the extensive damage they have caused.  If the damage had had an opportunity to spread to the roof and bell tower it could have been much worse.

A survey concluded that the beetle was far more widespread than first thought and if left untreated, the church would become unsafe and would cost a colossal amount of money to repair in the future.

High-level deathwatch treatment was therefore carried out in 2007/8.

This will be followed in due course by a 2nd stage as outlined in “Church Floor Replacement due to Deathwatch Beetle”.

• Contractors – Protectahome Limited & Thorteck Limited
• Church Architects – Bartosch & Stokes, Cheltenham
• Deathwatch Survey – Ridout Associates

Description:

Installation of New Window, including repairs to stonework and provision of external lighting.

Funded by contributions including:

• Friends of St. Mary’s with some in-memoriam gifts

Total £22,369

Explanation:

This window is a celebration of the work of Christ in our community in the 21st century, and was dedicated to the glory of God and to the memory of Evelyn May Freeman, Harry & Edna Passant, David & Michaela Phillips and Dr. K M Tomlinson, on Sunday 11 January 2009 by the Rt. Rev. John Went, Suffragan Bishop of Tewkesbury.

The modern design with mouth-blown glass reflects the rich and diverse ministry of St. Mary’s, the ecumenical fellowship of the church with Anglicans, Baptists and Methodists worshipping together, local youth work, and our mission work in India and Romania.

The uplifting imagery suggests:

• Omnipotence – over all the world and the heavens, from the smallest cells in our bodies to the greatest galaxies in space.
• Mystery and Transcendence – God is beyond our human understanding and yet present in all His creation.
• Outreach – reaching out from the centre of our hearts, our church, our God yet also drawing in, embracing and inclusive.

Designed, made and installed by Nicky Hopwood, Hay-on-Wye.

Donated by David Bailey, Mary & Martin Brown, Maggie & Ian Cocks, Barrie & Mary Freeman, Ann & Michael Keene, Derek & Wyn Lemarchand, Brenda & Fred Passant, Rev Pat Phillips, the Tomlinson family, and the Friends of St. Mary’s Church.

• Stone Masons – CDL Stone, Wiltshire
• Church Architects – Bartosch & Stokes, Cheltenham

Description:

Replacement and repair of degraded and unsafe stonework, including associated lead-work and new sundial.

Funded by contributions including:

• English Heritage £62,593
• Garfield Weston £10,000
• Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust £21,000
• Gloucestershire Methodist Circuit £5,000
• Local Grants £2,000
• National Churches (HCP) Trust £10,000
• PCC and various individual donations and fund raising events £52,154
• VAT Grants £27,355

Total £190,102

Tower Survey

Tower Stonework Before

Tower Stonework During

Tower Stonework After

Explanation:

Over the centuries, the tower stonework had become degraded and in some cases unsafe. This resulted in St. Mary’s being added to the English Heritage register of Buildings at Risk. Survey work was carried out by our architects and other surveyors and a project was planned to replace a significant amount of surface stone.

Link to a 3D Model of St. Mary’s Newent Tower Pre-restoration compiled by the surveyor Adam Stanford – MCIfA, FSA. Go to his website to see his other work www.aerial-cam.co.uk

• Stone Masons – Norman and Underwood Limited, Leicester
• Church Architects – Bartosch & Stokes, Cheltenham

Description:

Work to Timbers, Battens, Re-tiling and Lead-work. Including chimney stonework, internal lighting and also re-tiling and repairs to Porch Roof.

Funded by contributions including:

• Listed Places of Worship Grant £92,800*
• VAT Grants £17,841

Total £108,377

*Excess LPOW Grant carried forward to Chancel Roof

• Contractor – West Country Tiling, Frome
• Church Architects – Bartosch & Stokes, Cheltenham

Description:

Work to Timbers, Battens, Re-tiling and Lead-work. Including East End stonework, ground works and internal lighting.

Funded by contributions including:

• Gloucester Historic Churches Trust £3,000
• Garfield Weston £7,500
• PCC and various individual donations and fund raising events including tile sponsorship £52,814*
• VAT Grants £12,056

Total £75,370

*Including excess LPOW Grant carried forward from Lady Chapel Roof

• Contractor – Islwyn Pugh Construction, Merthyr Tydfil
• Church Architects – Bartosch & Stokes, Cheltenham

Description:

Relaying of the stone slab floor for easier access with improved DDA compliance, improving lighting, installing two sets of glass doors at the entrance to the church to create an enclosed Porch in the base of the Tower, and cleaning of interior of the Porch.

Funded by contributions including:

• Diocese of Gloucester (Bridging Finance) £
• Friends of St. Mary’s £
• Gloucester Environmental Trust £
• Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust £
• PCC and various individual donations (including in-memoriam) and fund raising events £

Total £

Explanation:

Press Release By Gloucester Environmental Trust.

“The Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Newent has had a long and interesting history, but this project has set out to both respect the past and re-model the south porch to make the Church more welcoming to users and visitors.  The Church’s history takes you back to around 750AD with the discovery of a Celtic Cross Shaft in the churchyard, now displayed in the south porch.  The 14th century medieval Church was rebuilt in 1679 and has observed many subsequent adaptations.  The 14th century south door and porch was in need of a thorough restoration.  The medieval door has now been retained in an open position; and the inner door as well as a new outer door fabricated in plate glass.  The vaulted porch has now been restored to its former glory and offers improved thermal efficiency, better lighting and greater security.”

The inner glass doors have been engraved with a prayer of blessing, viewed both when entering and leaving the church, which incorporates the local Daffodil motif, by well-known designer and glass engraver Tracey Sheppard. This all results in a more visible, warm and welcoming aspect.

• Main Contractor – Chambers Builders Limited
• Door Fabrication – Nero Doors
• Electrical Design Build – B.J. Cowles Electrical Contractors Limited
• Glass Designer and Engraver – Tracey Sheppard
• Church Architects – Hook Mason

In addition to other named projects on this page, St. Mary’s has raised considerable funds from individual donations and legacies as well as fund-raising events, to cover the following:

• Audio System (2010) £10,896.
• Heating System for Church Rooms, Kitchen, Office and Toilets (2011) £7,167.
• Heating System for Church – Boiler Replacement (2013) £7,828.
• Visual Display System (2014) £1,304.

We are very grateful for the support given to provide for such significant items.

Deathwatch Beetle has infested some of the floor timbers and it is spreading. The beetle’s grubs are notorious for their very damaging wood-boring activity and can remain in timber for up to ten years before being detected as full-grown adult beetles. Therefore a timber with just a few identifiable holes can have lost over 70% of the wood content on the inside, severely reducing the timber’s strength.

Over recent years, part of the floor gave way under one of the pews in the church and revealed the extensive damage they have caused. If the damage had had an opportunity to spread to the roof and bell tower it could have been much worse.

A survey concluded that the beetle was far more widespread than first thought and if left untreated, the church would become unsafe and would cost a colossal amount of money to repair in the future.

High-level deathwatch treatment was therefore carried out in 2007/8. Please see above.

This will be followed in due course by a 2nd stage.

If we act quickly by replacing damaged structural timbers and treating unaffected areas, the problem can be halted and the damage repaired more easily. Modern replacement materials and treated timber would eradicate the problem.

Part of the project is to make the floor all one level: disabled access would be better served, the building could be heated more cost-effectively and easier cleaning and maintenance would be enabled.

Under construction…