Building on Blockley’s HistorY

Refurbishing our church

At a first glance, our beautiful medieval church, which welcomes thousands of visitors a year, looks fine. The exterior has been very well maintained over the years but, internally, there is a lot wrong. The heating system has failed meaning that winter services have to be held in a nearby hall. The water supply, electrics and lighting all need renewing. There are structural problems with a Norman archway and the roof of the basement. Several of the internal monuments are in a bad state and the magnificent east window leaks and is deteriorating.

In its 850 year history, the church has gone through several internal changes. Now is the time to make the building fit for the twenty first century. For the last few years, we have worked with an architect and design team to undertake a wide consultation followed by a detailed plan for a £1.3 million scheme to address the issues above and, in addition, provide more usable space, a toilet and new servery. Underpinning all this is to make the whole building welcoming and accessible to all. The work will enable us to create an enhanced activity programme for all sections of the local community and visitors. This will include giving a better understanding of the architecture and history of the church and village and creating a digital archive for the future.

It is understandable that such a scheme in a prominent listed building costs a lot of money. We are working hard to raise these funds by a combination of applying for a major Heritage Fund grant, smaller amounts from other grant giving bodies, individuals and members of the congregation. If you feel able to help in any way please contact us.

The proposed floor plan - Click to open as a PDF