All posts by Mike Stuart

Kilpeck Church is open for visitors again.

Completed restoration work on the chancel walls – Plasterwork and lime wash has been completed and dried, and the scaffolding has been removed.

We are very pleased to announce that the final part of our restoration to the inside of the church is now completed.

All restoration work is complete and the scaffolding has been removed, so the church is now safe and fully open for visitors.

We would like to thank you for your patience during the restoration work.

We would also like to thank Oliver Architecture and Jones & Fraser for their outstanding attention to detail and care in this sensitive project.

Completed restoration work on the rear walls
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Kilpeck Church Restoration: The church is reopening for visitors on 31st October

Scaffolding and application of lime plastering to the chancel walls

Latest progress report:

All but the back wall has been limewashed. We are just waiting for the plaster to dry.
The scaffolding is due to come down at the end of the month.

The church is reopening for visitors on 31st October

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Kilpeck Church Restoration Update 19th March 2023: The church is open again for visitors

All the old plaster has now been removed and the scaffolding taken down.  We have decided to leave the walls to dry out over the summer months before replastering and painting in September.

This means that the church is now open again for visitors.
It will remain open until September for work to be completed.

Kilpeck Church Restoration 2023 - Scaffolding Taken Down awaiting plaster and lime render

 

A huge thank you to everyone who has donated through the website so far, which has helped enormously. We have received about half the amount we need to reduce the final cost through grants and donations. We still have to complete the interior, so do please continue donating.

You can donate either in the church, or online using the link below.

THANK YOU!

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Kilpeck Church would like to thank the following organisations for their generous support of our restoration appeal:

 


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Kilpeck Church Restoration Update 22nd January 2023: Interior Repairs underway

Here are some more photos of work in progress:

They show the scaffolding erected against the wall between the chancel and apse; now stripped of plaster.

Also, scaffolding has been erected against the back wall above the gallery, with the plaster being stripped.

The walls will then be allowed to dry out, before being painted with limewash.

Kilpeck Church Restoration 2023
The wall between the chancel and apse stripped of plaster
Kilpeck Church Restoration 2023
Scaffolding erected against the back wall above the gallery
Kilpeck Church Restoration 2023
Plaster being stripped from the back wall above the gallery

A huge thank you to everyone who has donated through the website so far, which has helped enormously. We have received about half the amount we need to reduce the final cost through grants and donations. We still have to complete the interior, so do please continue donating.

You can donate either in the church, or online using the link below.

THANK YOU!

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Kilpeck Church would like to thank the following organisations for their generous support of our restoration appeal:

 


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Kilpeck Church Restoration Update 12th January 2023: Interior Repairs commencing

The inside of the church will be closed from 9th January until at least the end of the month whilst work on the the interior walls is completed.

If you were planning on visiting the church there is still plenty to see on the outside.

Regular updates on progress will be made.

 

 

A huge thank you to everyone who has donated through the website so far, which has helped enormously. We have received about half the amount we need to reduce the final cost through grants and donations. We still have to complete the interior, so do please continue donating.

You can donate either in the church, or online using the link below.

THANK YOU!

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Kilpeck Church would like to thank the following organisations for their generous support of our restoration appeal:

 


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Kilpeck Church Restoration Update 13th August 2022: Repairs to the internal walls will be postponed until the New Year

Current Church View with Scaffolding Taken Down
Repointed Gable End

The remaining external scaffolding came down this week, and all external work is now complete.
Repairs to damp damage on the internal walls will be postponed until the New Year in order not to interfere with visitor numbers.
The church will have to be closed for a month in January.

We have had the church filled to capacity for three days running at the end of July: Hereford Historic Churches AGM, a service of blessing and a baptism. It’s not often that we achieve this!

 

Service of Blessing
Hereford Historic Churches Trust: Annual General Meeting
And last but not least… our church chicken!

 

A huge thank you to everyone who has donated through the website so far, which has helped enormously. We have received about half the amount we need to reduce the final cost through grants and donations. We still have to complete the interior, so do please continue donating.

You can donate either in the church, or online using the link below.

THANK YOU!

(Opens in new window)

 


Kilpeck Church would like to thank the following organisations for their generous support of our restoration appeal:

 


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Kilpeck Church Restoration Update 9th July 2022: All external work on the church is now completed

All external work is now completed, with the scaffolding fully removed.

Internal works will not be carried out until the New Year in order not to disrupt visitors, as we will have to close the church.

Read the recent site inspection report by the restoration company, Oliver Architecture:

GENERAL

  • External scaffold is being removed, and will be clear on the south and west sides,
    in time for tomorrow’s wedding. The remainder will be removed on Monday.

EXTERNAL REPAIRS

  • It was noted that close inspection of the stone tiling shows that the diminishing
    courses have not been properly executed when originally reroofed (1960s?). There
    are short courses at the base, with very large laps and very short laps. The roof
    needs to be monitored but reroofing will be required in due course, perhaps sooner
    than might have been anticipated.
  • The west window capitals have new slate caps to protect them from the weather.
  • The old slate cap was retained to avoid the potential of damaging the carving.
  • There are concrete ridge tiles which are quite brittle. It was agreed to omit the replacement of some of the broken small tiles below the ridge as this will cause more damage to the ridges. A mortar fillet is to be applied to weather this detail.

INTERNAL REPAIRS

  • A programme for the internal repairs needs to be prepared, and agreed with the
    PCC, as this will mean the interior is closed.
  • The Nave east gable was inspected. It was felt that replastering was not necessary, particularly as the other side is unplastered. FF raised a concern as to the type of paint on the stones, which will need to be explored close to.
  • The new rafter and boarding in the Nave south-east corner needs to be stained down.

Continue reading Kilpeck Church Restoration Update 9th July 2022: All external work on the church is now completed

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Kilpeck Church Restoration Update 23 June 2022: External Scaffolding Erected and Works Underway

The corbels before repair work

The scaffolding went up and work commenced on time in mid-May.  Much of the repointing has now been done, and now there only remains the west end gable wall to be repaired.

Replacement of the roof soakers and flashings is progressing well.  Rotting timber has been found under the tiles close to the flashings.  This will have to be replaced, which will extend the time spent on the outside by a week or two.

The scaffolding will then be taken down and work will commence on the damp damage to the internal walls.

A huge thank you to everyone who has donated through the website.  It’s all helping to reduce the final cost.  Do please continue donating.

 

Please may we ask you to consider donating as generously as you feel you can, so that we may preserve this very special church for generations to come.

You can donate either in the church, or online using the link below.

THANK YOU!

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Continue reading Kilpeck Church Restoration Update 23 June 2022: External Scaffolding Erected and Works Underway

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Kilpeck Church Restoration Update 22 June 2022: Review of major works

The restoration work is due to last until the middle of July.

Work is now in progress on this major restoration project. The work involves repointing parts of the external walls and stripping out and replacing all the
lead flashings on the roof.

The scaffolding will then be removed and re-erected inside in order to strip off the plaster work on the internal walls where damp ingress has caused damage.
Once the walls have dried out, they can then be limewashed.
Plaster will not be reapplied in order to
allow the walls to breathe.

The church will remain open for visitors but will be closed in the new year once
work commences on the inside.

View the current repair work below, by the restoration company Oliver Architecture:

Restoration Work undertaken on Nave West Gable
Nave Looking West
Chancel Looking East

 

Bellcote West Elevation

Key To Bellcote repairs:

  1. Plastic repair to bellcote cill
  2. Piece repair to impost block corner
  3. Coloured limewash/mortar to consolidate face of ashlar
  4. Grout fractures to stone
  5. Repoint open joint
Roof plan showing areas in need of repair
Roof plan showing areas in need of repair

 

 

With many thanks to  Oliver Architecture and Jones & Fraser


Continue reading Kilpeck Church Restoration Update 22 June 2022: Review of major works

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