Church of St Mary, Sutterton

The lead roof covering was in very poor condition. It had suffered from considerable water ingress and the roof timbers had suffered from significant decay over a period of time. The masonry to the west and north face of the transept was particularly poor with decayed stone and a large crack visible both internally and externally.

Several key areas needed addressing. We undertook structural repairs to the main trusses and replaced a number of rafters and wall plates. The roofs were re-covered in lead and the rainwater goods were replaced. The north gable was partially re-built, and stabilized with cintec anchors, and stone repairs and repointing were undertaken.

We explored opportunities with the PCC to re-order the church internally to deliver ‘useable’ spaces for this active group, which would include much needed toilet and kitchen facilities. A kitchen was provided in the North Transept and the timber floor was lowered to provide a level space for tables and chairs to be set out. Toilets and a vestry were provided in the South Transept with a mains sewer connection. To maximise the project value, the internal re-ordering and Grant Aided Repairs were included in the same tender package. The changes have enabled the church to open three times a week with worship on a Sunday.