St Helen's  Little Eversden  

 

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Major Restoration Completed - no more this century!

The contractors, Bakers of Danbury, completed work on the tower and nave ceiling projects in late January. All who have monitored and observed the works in progress have been most impressed by the care and skills employed in this project. The roof of the church tower has been completely renewed and the buttresses are now securely tied in to the walls of the tower. Wherever possible existing stonework has been carefully conserved by Alison Ayres rather than replaced. The string courses and the plinth at the base of the tower have largely been renewed together with many of the coping stones on the parapets with Clipsham limestone provided by Fairhaven at Anglesey Abbey. After such robust restoration it is to be hoped no further major repairs will be needed this century.

Internally the whole of the nave ceiling has been replaced and the chancel ceiling extensively repaired. While the scaffolding was still in place it was decided to completely redecorate the chancel and the nave and also to fit new spotlights in the chancel.

Although the final cost of the project is not yet known further fund raising will be needed and therefore a Gift Day is to be held in St Helen's church on Saturday 11 March.

The church is now open again and the first service to be held there since the closure for restoration was the Benefice service held on 29 January when a large congregation was able to inspect the completed works. The normal pattern of Sunday morning services alternating between the two churches will now resume.

On Sunday 19 March at 11.00 am there will be a special service of thanksgiving for the restoration of St Helen's at which the Bishop of Huntingdon, John Inge will celebrate and preach.

From Tail Corn Vol 30 No 3

 

Historic Churches Preservation Trust

The Eversdens’ PCC is very grateful to the Historic Churches Preservation Trust (HCPT) who have awarded a grant in the sum of £7,500 towards the costs of the very substantial repairs to the tower at St Helen’s. Additionally, at Christmas, we also heard that the Watson Trust, comprising a legacy administered by the Historic Churches Preservation Trust had also awarded an additional grant in the sum of £1,500 towards the costs of the proposed bell refurbishment at St Helen’s.

The Historic Churches Preservation Trust is a national charity offering funds to communities for essential repairs to the fabric of churches and chapels in England and Wales regardless of denomination or grade. It was founded in 1953 and since then has awarded over £23 million in grants. It receives around 1,800 enquiries per year, resulting in 400 applications which turn into 350 grants in an average year.

The estimate of total eligible repairs required to churches in England and Wales is £55 million per year. The average cost of work per church in 2002 was £104, 000 and this had risen from £82,000 in only four years. The average grant awarded by HCPT in 2002 was £6,000, and the total given out in grants and loans was just over £1.5 million to 273 churches. 38% of communities applying to HCPT have a total population less than 500.

The Trust receives no financial aid from government or church authorities and relies entirely on voluntary contributions. Do please consider whether you could support the work of the Trust by making a donation or becoming a Friend which costs £15 annually (£25 in the first year). Every penny the Trust receives goes towards supporting churches as all the Trust’s administrative costs are covered by the income from investments made many years ago. You will find donation/application forms in both churches.         From Tail Corn Vol 30 No 3

 

To all friends of the Eversden churches wherever you are.

£25,000 still needed


You may be aware that a major restoration project has recently been taking place at Little Eversden church involving the tower and internal ceilings. The tower has a new roof while the walls have been repointed and the buttresses are now securely tied into the walls. Where the stonework could not be conserved it has been replaced. Internally the nave ceiling has been completely replaced in a traditional manner using laths and lime plaster while the chancel ceiling has been extensively repaired. In view of rapidly escalating costs it was decided to also redecorate the chancel and nave.

The last major restoration took place in 1892 and it is to be hoped the tower will not require any further major repairs this century.

While the total costs are expected to be about £220,000, through the generosity of our external donors and also that of the Fossey Trust and the Friends of the Eversden churches together with many residents of the Eversdens approximately £195,000 has so far been raised. The difference has been temporarily found from loans which now have to be repaid. Donations are therefore being sought from friends in the villages as has been done successfully in the past when major costs have arisen which could not be met from existing funds. This restoration has of course been to Little Eversden church but Little and Great are one parish so this letter is being circulated to all residents in the Eversdens.
A GIFT DAY is to be held on Saturday 11th March 2006 from 11am to 3 pm in St. Helen’s church when the Treasurer and others will be present to receive gifts and answer any questions you may have. Should you be unable to come on that day gifts may be given to the Treasurer, Michael Nicholson at 5 Finch’s Field, Little Eversden. Telephone 01223 263807.

If you wish your donation to go towards the St Helen's appeal or future repairs at St Mary's, Great Eversden please circle the appropriate name on the enclosed envelope. Otherwise your donation will be divided equally between the two repair funds. Please make cheques payable to the Eversden Churches.

If you are a tax payer and prepared to sign a Gift Aid declaration the church can then recover the tax you have already paid on the amount you donate at no additional cost to you. A declaration is included for you to complete and put in the envelope with your gift. This is an excellent way of increasing the value of your gift as the church can reclaim 28 pence for every £1 donated.

Our churches have served the villages for centuries and in addition to the regular services are open to all for baptisms, weddings and funerals. They have been maintained and kept open by the commitment and effort of those living in the villages.

Please help us with a gift now, or if that is not possible, a promise of one in the near future.

Peter Morton Acting Chairman
Michael Nicholson Treasurer
Pat Walden Churchwarden          February 2006                                                         Top of page

To find pictures of the restoration in progress go to Eversden Events Pictured