Website Admin In CHURCH, DONCASTER, ST MARY'S, TOWER APPEAL

Tower restoration – what is happening?

CONSERVING OUR GRADE 1 LISTED CHURCH

Scaffolding the 124-foot tower on all four sides is now complete, allowing the important conservation work to begin. This is a once in a lifetime project planned to finish in June. I can imagine you have been wondering what is happening as you see the scaffold head skyward; here is a brief summary of the work involved.

Most of the work is focussed on the bell chamber (or belfry), particularly the limestone traceries, these being the ornate stonework frames around the upper parts of louvred openings, which you can clearly see from ground level on all four sides, high in the tower. Some of this magnesian limestone will be removed, cleaned, re-pinned and reset, but where the weather has caused significant erosion, creating displacement risks, new locally quarried limestone is being cut and dressed as a full replacement. There are other areas of stonework to the external tower walls, again where climatic conditions have caused localised erosion and cracking, which are to be removed and replaced with new ashlar, finely dressed surface stone, to match that already in place.

The level of activity of conservators in and around the bell chamber makes it necessary to silence the bells, for both the hourly chime and the four-hourly carillon. There is a myriad of wires, cables, pulleys and springs which are carefully anchored across the whole of the bell chamber, necessary for the bells to be struck from the carillon. This complicated assembly, which is over 100 years old, is to be made secure before the internal work starts. Additionally, being in the bell chamber when the bells ring out is painfully noisy, with sound levels far too high to afford the conservators the level of safety they need. For these reasons the bells must remain silent for the length of this project.

I hope this gives you an insight of this important and necessary work which is currently being undertaken.

Phil Beavers

Chair

Fabric Committee.

Website Admin In CHURCH, DONCASTER, ST MARY'S, TICKHILL, TOWER APPEAL

Conservation and repairs to the Church Tower

Conservation and repairs to the Church Tower

Pedestrian Diversion at St. Mary’s Church:

The current footpath diversion around New Road, avoiding the churchyard, will remain in place until the scaffolding is complete, hopefully by Monday, 18th January at the latest. As soon as it is safe to do so, a more direct pedestrian diversion through the churchyard will be put in place. This will be via the main North gate, round the East end and down the South side of the church. This diversion will be clearly marked and will remain in place until the work on the tower is complete.

The Church Bells:

Conservation work in and around the belfry, in the upper parts of the tower, is scheduled to start very soon. It will soon be necessary therefore to silence the bells until this work is complete. This is regrettable but necessary during this important part of the conservation project.

Website Admin In CHURCH, DONCASTER, NOTICES, ST MARY'S, TICKHILL

Latest news

So sorry… we are having to close for while

In light of the current Tier 5 Lockdown, on the grounds of public safety, the church will remain temporarily closed whilst Tier 5 status prevails.

We will continue to review the position on a regular basis and also pay close attention to advice forthcoming from the Diocese of Sheffield, in deciding when it’s considered safe for collective worship to resume.

It is with sadness I have to advise you of this, but I’m sure you’ll agree that the safety of our worshipping community is paramount during these very difficult times.

The streaming of Morning Prayer and Sunday Communion will continue until 11 February, when Revd. Ali retires. Quite soon I will be able to advise you of the streaming arrangements which will take place following her retirement.

If you require any further information, please do let me know.

Phil Beavers

PCC Secretary

Website Admin In CHURCH, DIOCESE, DONCASTER, TICKHILL, TOWER APPEAL

The Tower Project – The work is about to start

I have been advised that contractors will be on site to commence the external restoration work on the tower imminently. As soon as the work begins, a two way pedestrian diversion will be put in place in the churchyard for public safety. To see a map which shows the diversion, please click here.

This diversion will remain in place until the work is complete, which is expected to be in the order of 6 months.

You will see from the map that almost all pedestrian access through the churchyard is being temporally diverted (shown in pink) via New Road, Church Lane and the Southern footpath of the church (shown in blue). Access to the War Memorial will continue to be available via the North gate.

Should the church be allowed to re-open for regular Sunday worship after the current lockdown period ends, further guidance will be posted on the church website and across social media with full details.

We are sorry to put members of the public to some inconvenience during this major restoration project, but our first and prime concern is that of public safety. If you require any further help or guidance, please do get in touch.

Kind regards and stay safe,

Phil Beavers

PCC Secretary

Website Admin In CHURCH, DONCASTER, TICKHILL