A unique 20th century fresco can now be conserved at one of the six round tower churches in Essex – thanks to a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The £135,000 grant will also enable repair of the spire … Continued
In the latest quarterly edition of the Society’s Round Tower magazine, Richard Barham looks at some examples in round tower churches – at Bramfield, Lound, Hardwick, Wissett, Risby and Lamarsh. Visit any of these church pages to read the full … Continued
After rood screens featured in the September 2021 edition of The Round Tower, Richard Barham discusses rood lofts and stairs. Why was it necessary to be able to access the walkway, or loft, which ran across the top of the … Continued
Almost exactly two years ago a North Norfolk round tower won a major lottery grant.
All Saints, Gresham, has now re-opened for regular services after a major refurbishment funded in large measure by a National Heritage Lottery Fund grant.
An invited congregation of about 50 supporters, church leaders and members of the Friends of All Saints Gresham celebrated at a special service at the end of October.
It has been a marathon effort as the £140,900 project involved repairs to the north chancel roof, the tower, windows and replacing rainwater goods, re-plastering and repainting walls. The church has been made weather and water-proof.
The round tower church has been transformed, thanks to the efforts of contractors and volunteers, into a bright and welcoming centre for community activities.
Julia Drury, chairman of the Friends, said that supporters had raised more than £12,500 since the group was launched almost five years ago. The additional funds have helped to pay for some of the work, which has been carried out.
She plans to stand down from her demanding role in March 2022 after five years of dedicated work. It was a further irony that she was informed that the church had been successful in obtaining key National Lottery Funding more than two years ago but a formal announcement could not be made because of the rules around the 2019 General Election.
Now the church can welcome visitors again for regular service and also for wider community activities, talks, lectures and concerts in the coming months.
Although further work to the upper stages of the round tower will be necessary in the coming months, the essential repairs to the main body of the church have been carried out despite all the headaches caused by the Covid-19 lockdown.
Michael Knights, who was Norfolk County Council’s heritage and landscape manager, describes the project’s background which started almost 20 years. It was quite a challenge to build the first “new” flint round church tower in the heart of Norfolk for … Continued
An ancestor of one of the country’s influential poets, George Crabbe, was buried in the chancel of Blundeston church, writes Michael Pollitt. His great-grandfather, William Sydnor became patron of St Mary’s in 1587. When he died in 1613, aged three … Continued
A mystery water colour painting of a round tower church has been successfully identified by “art detective” Stuart Bowell. It has been given to the Society and offers are now invited for this charming painting. When the Society’s chairman received … Continued
Five churches have been awarded a total of £14,500 by the Round Tower Churches Society. The latest grants include at least £6,000 for St Andrew, Mutford, and also £2,000 for St Mary, Long Stratton, it was agreed at the latest … Continued
Membership has risen again in the first half of the year to a total of 486 – as 26 members joined the Society. Nick Wiggin, membership secretary, said that the six months to the end of September had seen a … Continued