Suckley Church |
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LATEST TOWER APPEAL NEWS
The church tower has structural problems which must be fixed urgently. The only acceptable option is full restoration, at a cost of 65,000 pounds.
An appeal was launched at the Easter Sunday service on 16 April 2006 and as of October 2007, the full amount has been raised and work has begun. However, the total cost has increased to 70,000 pounds and an extra five thousand pounds needs to be raised.
Visitors to this website are asked to help - see below.
THE TOWER AND ITS STRUCTURAL PROBLEM
Every church must have a quinquennial inspection by a Diocesan approved Architect. This has for many years outlined structural problems in the tower and the latest report states that this is now urgent. The rest of the report shows the church to be in good condition.
The arrangement at the top of the tower consists of a level pierced stone parapet with the truncated remains of pinnacles at each corner, and a relatively short stone spire with a crocketed pinnacle at this apex. In summary, the lead gutter has developed faults and is leaking. This is allowing rainwater to leak into the masonry at the base of the spire and top of the tower. The stone and brick has been saturated and has led to spalling of the stone and brickwork, and cracking in the walls at the top of the tower. Defects in the mortar joints in the stone are allowing the water to leak in.
WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?
Close the Church
This is unacceptable as the church is still used weekly by a small but growing congregation and regularly by those wanting to be christened, married and buried.
Remove all the pinnacles and spire and cap the roof
This is more expensive than restoring.
Basic Repairs
English Heritage and the Diocese have turned down this option as the tower is now dangerous.
Full Restoration
This is the only option acceptable to the congregation and the wider village community.
This historic building has been handed down to the village by past generations as a landmark to serve the needs of the whole community. It is our responsibility to pass it on to our descendents in a fit state, so it may continue to be used as a place for peace and worship as well as being a focal point and gathering place for the community.
HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
It will cost 70,000 pounds. English Heritage has recognised the importance of the project and offered us a substantial grant. We are approaching many organisations seeking their help. Visitors to this website are also urged to help with the project in any way they can.
For more details please contact:
Rev'd Andrew Bullock
Phone +44 (0)1886 832355
Email a dot bullock at rmplc dot co dot uk
or send a message via the Suckley website contact page.
HISTORY OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH, SUCKLEY
A church has stood on this site since Norman times and was mentioned in the Domesday Book. The present Victorian church was built in 1878 of Cradley stone with Bath stone dressings but retains some of the original features such as the tub font dating from around 1150-1200 with a 17th century domed cover, the 14th century piscina (a recess in the north wall of the chancel used for washing sacred vessels), the Jacobean pulpit, and old wall tablets which were tidied up into the base of the bell tower. Outside are the remains of a mediaeval preaching cross, the base of which is scarred where arrows were sharpened on the stone.
The church consists of a chancel with vestry and organ chamber, a nave of 3 bays, north transept, and south aisle with porch. The western tower has open battlements and five crocketed pinnacles, altogether 102 feet high and containing six bells which were cast by the Rudhall foundry in 1711. The East window shows some of the best stained glass of the day by Charles Kempe. The Sanctuary was modernised by W J Hopkins, much of whose work can be seen in Worcester. The clock on the tower was installed in 1911 in memory of local benefactor E H Hill.
Today the church is used mainly for christenings, weddings, funerals, the local school, musical concerts, church festivals and fund raising events.
A successful appeal will enable the church to continue to be used as a place for peace and worship as well as being a focal point and gathering place for the community.
DID YOU KNOW?
- The original cost of the Church in 1878 was 5,000 pounds by public subscription.
- The tower is hung with 6 bells cast by the famous Rudhall foundry in Gloucester. These were restored in the late 1980s at a cost of 9,000 pounds raised locally.
- The Church seats 250.
- The beautifully carved oak hymnboard was donated by two ladies of the School of Art - Wood Carving in London in memory of their colleague Miss MacKenzie who died locally.
- The large font dates from around 1150-1200 and has a 17th century domed cover.
- There is a brass tablet in the chancel to the Rev'd Thomas Littleton (died 1665).
- In 1822 there was a custom of dressing the church with holly at Christmas, birch on the Sunday nearest Midsummer, oak at Whitsuntide and yew at Easter.
- Replica Crimea medals are to be found on the headstone of William Henry Beard who died in 1901 and there is a military grave in memory of J H Dewhurst who died in November 1945.
- Outside the Church are the remains of a medieval preaching cross. Scars show where arrows were sharpened on the stone.
- The clock on the tower was installed in 1911 in memory of the local benefactor E H Hill.
- Fences in the churchyard were originally set up in sections, each one sponsored by local landowners.
- The population in 1891 was 664. It is now 547, 52% of whom are over the age of 45!
- The school roll in 1891 was 136. It is now 42. The original school-house was built up against the western end of the south wall of the old church.
PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY!
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