• Projects

  • St Mary’s Church Stow

  • Included in the 100 most endangered sites in the world by the World Monument Fund in 2006,  this special building is in need of water and weatherproofing before the internal decoration can be addressed.

  • This important Anglo-Saxon Minster has parts dating from 950 A.D. It attracts visitors from round the world and is an important historic and spiritual site which was restored in Victorian times but now needs major restoration and repair works.

  • The Church is a Grade 1 listed building so great care needs to be taken. It is estimated that the work will take at least 10 years to complete and cost between  £2-3 million at current prices.

  • The picture below shows a broken downpipe and the poor condition of the lead, guttering and stonework on the North Transept of the church

  • Work in Progress

    Restoration work will be in three stages:

    Stage 1 (current stage) Prevention of water damage to internal structure

    Stage  2                          Repair of weather damage to the building

    Stage  3                          Internal restoration

    At present we are at Stage 1 of the building repairs

    Phase 1 Repairs to North and South Transept Roofs

    Work is now complete on this phase. The ground level drainage work may have to be delayed until later as the roofwork is priority at present.

    During the replacement of the woodwork,  there was several interesting finds including what is believed to be the Restoration Rood Beam, sawn in half and reused, and also a possible wooden cover for the 13th Century Font.

     Phase 2 repairs will now be started as soon as possible .

    Phase 2  Tower Roof and masonry is estimated to cost around £325,000

    Phase 3  Chancel Roof is to follow on from this

    Phase 4  Nave Roof will be repaired after the chancel

    Stage 2

    Repairs to weather damage,  External masonery, Repair glazing

    Stage 3

    Internal restoration,             Repairs to damaged plaster,   Redecoration

    Work hopefully to be completed by 2015

    Funds

    Many national and international bodies, such as the World Monument Fund, the Church Commissioners and English Heritage are helping to fund this work. However more help is needed. If you wish to preserve this unique and important building for future generations, please consider making a Donation and/or joining the Friends of Stow Minster

     

    Donations

    Making a donation for the restoration work at St Mary’s Church can be done online. Please choose from options below, go to the appropriate site and follow the instructions.

    For those paying UK tax, it is possible to gift aid your donations.

     

    Donate to 'Stow Church Restoration Trust' , Stow  using your credit or debit card or your Charities Aid Foundation account

     

     

 

The Problems

Side Altar showing water damage on wall

altarwaterdamage 

 

 

 

 

North Transept with crumbling stonework, rotten gutters and downpipes, lead slipping and cracking




Main Door showing crumbling stonework

 

Please be generous, this important building needs your help if it is to be preserved for the future