WORK has started on the restoration of the roofs, stonework and rainwater systems at the Grade 1 Listed, 12th century St Laurence Church, Frodsham – mainly thanks to a £180,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The work, which is scheduled to last until June, has been in the planning stage since problems were first identified during the last five yearly inspection by Knutsford-based church architects Graham Holland Associates in 2011.
Since most of the work is at height the first stages of physical work to be seen have been the erection of scaffolding and security shielding that will extend to three sides of the building, North, South and East.
The South aisle roof is the current focus of work in preparation for its final, new stainless steel layer.
The church is a genuine focal point for the community and is already used for concerts, theatrical productions and special artistic exhibits – in addition to services of Christian worship, baptism, weddings and funerals.
It is also well used by visitors, architectural historians, those seeking quiet contemplation and people tracing their genealogy.
Of necessity, access to the church will be restricted during the works.
The Heritage Lottery Fund award, as well as funding the necessary building works, is also to fund activities and facilities to enable the community to better understand and appreciate the heritage of the church. Some extra internal work will be required to create storage for equipment and exhibition areas that will provide information for visitors to this historic building that was mentioned in the Domesday Book. This heritage aspect of such an important building will feature strongly and be developed further within the project.
A recent visit by So JaJa, a relative of the young Prince Warabo of Opobo in Nigeria, was a significant historical connection that was of great interest to both the church and the local history society.
Picture: Scaffolding around the iconic St Laurence Church
Work starts on church restoration
00 Comments
