Roof & Ceiling

Updates on the work to replace the aisle roofs and the ceiling plaster in the nave.

Aisle Roofs - the lead was stolen from the aisle roofs in July 2019. Reviews of repair options and discussions about their implementation have led now to a plan to install Terne-coated stainless steel replacements. Approval from both the Diocese and Cherwell District Council has been given for this. The work also needs to take account of the use of the church as a bat roost. 

Nave Ceiling Plaster - The ceiling plaster in the nave started falling during 2020. The ceiling is about 150 years old and this is a known challenge for structures of this kind. To prevent injury our bishop gave permission to close the church whilst a temporary solution was found, and we were given permission to install netting to ensure protection of users of the church. The church re-opened in June 2022. 

Current situation (July 2026) St Olave's is now listed on the Heritage at Risk register held by Historic England. We are urgently seeking funds to complete work on the aisle roofs and, we hope, the ceiling also. We intend replace the aisle roofs, at least, in the next 12 months. 

See above for a video from a recent information session on the need to save St Olave's.

Responses to questions asked about our work on St Olave's church:

What are the details of the costs? There are two components to the work needed. One is the repair of the two aisle roofs, from which lead was stolen. The other is to restore the plaster ceiling to the Chancel and Nave. The costs include those associated with appropriate measures for the resident bat population. The two aisle roofs we believe will cost about £110,000, the Chancel and Nave ceiling about £50,000. We currently have about £55,000 and this will allow us to complete the work needed on the most urgent repair, to the north aisle roof, but it would be cheaper and better to complete all the work (and certainly both aisle roofs) at once.

What issues do the bats create? We are only able to complete the work during periods when the bat population is hibernating elsewhere. This limits our window for work to roughly late September through to the start of April. Another time-limiting factor is that one of the grants we hold must be spent on the work for which it was given by March 2027. However a recent award from the Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust has enabled us to believe we can do this, completing the north aisle roof work at the least.

The lead was stolen in 2019 - why has it taken so long to address the repair work? A number of factors have been important here. They include recruitment of a new Rector for the Benefice, and before that challenges associated with ensuring we follow appropriate processes and use permitted materials. We believe the most important focus now is to complete the work we now can do.

What is the Church of England contributing? Church of England funding for this kind of work is handled at the Diocesan and Parish levels. The Diocese of Oxford has made what is a generous award of £15,000 towards the work that needs doing and we have also been strongly supported by the expertise and advice of a key officer within the Church Buildings Team at Diocesan Church House. Other applications for funding are being made.

What fundraising approaches are you able to take? Fundraising is being conducted at the Parish level. We believe it is important that we do whatever we can to raise funds locally so we can complement the funding we are able to request from external sources. Fundraising can be about laying out the specific needs in conversations with individuals and groups, as well as planned activities - concerts, social events, auctions and the like. We warmly welcome any suggestions for fundraising.

Have you got a builder identified? Not yet. We have an indicative budget and need to go through a tendering process.