The recent Quinquennial Inspection report for St Ed’s, by architect Ruth A Blackman, noted issues with the East window, Chancel thatched roof and the organ. These concerns all need urgent attention. This news item provides an update on progress of these projects to date (23rd Nov 2023).

Headlines on progress to 23 Nov 2023

- Our Faculty applications for the repairs to the East Window and the chancel thatch to be replaced have both been approved

- We are now working on the submission for the repairs and improvements to the organ

- We have so far received £1,344.44 and pledges of £3,000 towards the overall costs (in excess of £90,000). We also have £30,000 we can draw on from our reserves.

- We are now considering which grants are appropriate to apply for

- The Building project group are considering various additional options and ideas to raise funds

In detail

The East Window

The recent Quinquennial Inspection report by architect Ruth A Blackman noted defects that are having a significant impact on the glass and stonework. These include: corroding saddle bars, cracked pieces of glass and a few open joints to the tracery stones. It was stated that as a significant number of repairs are necessary, then re-leading might be considered.

Water was observed passing through the cracked glazing during recent storms.

A Statement for Conservation and Restoration work given by Devlin Plummer :
- photographing and labelling all of the panels
- removal of mortar, support bars, ties and all panels
- dismantling, assessment and cleaning of all panels at their workshop
- repair or replacement of any broken panels as necessary
- re-leading of the panels using lead cames of the same size and profile as the original
- panels to be refitted into the original glazing groove and sealed with a lime based mortar.
- making good corroding saddle bars and open joints to the tracery stone

The Chancel Thatch

The thatch on the Chancel roof of St Edmund's Church is now rapidly approaching the end of its useful life and needs replacing at a quoted price of £31,500, which includes scaffolding and waste removal costs.

It is not known when it was last replaced. Records show that the whole church was thatched in 1891 and that the nave was converted to tiles in 1970, but the chancel roof was not replaced at that time and, apart from replacement of the ridge, has not been renewed since. At the time of the ridge work in 2008 we were advised that a complete replacement would be needed after approximately another fifteen years. The thickness of the thatch has now reduced to 6 inches, but should ideally be a minimum of 12 inches. If left unattended there is a danger of deterioration of the underlying roof timbers and further ingress of water into the church building.

The recent Quinquennial inspection, highlights the need for prompt action, for which we have received a quote from Gary Stokes, a Thatcher on the Diocesan list. He has applied his skill to several Norfolk Churches over his career.
The Quinquennial inspection also highlights the need for minor repair work to the gables at either end of the chancel, which is estimated to cost a maximum of £4000 and should ideally be completed at the time of thatching.
Recent ingress of rainwater below both gables of the chancel has highlighted the urgent need for this work to be initiated as soon as possible.

The proposed works include:
1. Erect scaffolding to both elevations.
2. Strip off and dispose of existing thatch, wire netting, mortar flashings and guttering. 

3. Rethatch in Norfolk reed to a minimum depth of 300mm. Eaves to be set out straight, the reed laid in courses of an even density fixed with 8mm steel rod and galvanised screw fixings.
4. Fit a new wrapover ridge using Marsh sedge and hazel fixings. Ridge to be a minimum depth of 125mm and to set out and cut to a straight block pattern.
5. Cover roof in new galvanised wire netting,
6. Fit new lime mortar flashings down parapet abutments.

The organ

We have a ‘Holdich’ organ, which is a fine historic instrument, in urgent need of restoration so that it can once again sound as it did when it was originally installed in the church in 1856-7. This restoration will include dismantling the organ for the following work to be done:

 Cleaning all the pipes

 Cleaning and repairing the mechanisms- wires, levers, springs and sliders- which link the keys on the keyboard and the pedals to the pipes.

 Cleaning the bellows which provide air to the pipes.

 Add a replacement swell box roof to the organ so that more sound from the instrument passes down into the nave of the church rather than disappearing into the roof.

 A new trumpet stop added to the organ to supplement the range of stops present on the organ. (There is space on the organ and for an extra stop and there is evidence that Mr Holdich originally had a reed stop on the organ.

The organ will be restored by Bower & Company (Richard Bower)

A printable, slightly expanded, version of the project update is attached for your reference.