ST BARTHOLOMEW'S CHURCH AND CHURCHYARD is an ancient Christian site and the church is still used for worship most Sundays and on other occasions. The Church has its origins in Norman times, about 1175, but the site itself is believed to have had earlier Christian and pre-Christian uses. The Church is a Grade I listed building with many old and interesting features. The beautiful north porch lies beneath an unusual 'Priest's Room', the Font is believed to originate from the 14th century and the pulpit, installed in 1631, is one of the Church's treasures.
PROBLEMS with the building arose largely from its precarious position and construction on a mound which may well be partly man-made. The building has probably suffered the effects of ground movement and structural instability since it was built. This movement became significantly worse in the mid-1980s and early 1990s and resulted in changing levels and widening cracks.
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| One of the major cracks | Original retaining wall |
In association with English Heritage detailed studies and monitoring were carried over a ten year period. These studies indicated that major factors in the greater recent movement were the seasonal swelling and shrinkage of the clay mound influenced by the roots of the surrounding trees and vegetation. The retaining wall on the north and east sides, which may be contemporary with the Church, was disintegrating and adding to the problems.
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| View of the church and mound | Trees growing in the mound |
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After removal of the trees on the South West side |
ADDITIONAL LAND on the north and east sides was acquired and the trees and vegetation removed from the mound. In the hot dry summer of 2003 there was no measurable movement on this side of the Church. The trees on the south and west sides were removed in early 2004 in the hope for similar improvement. There was no subsequent movement.
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November 2005 Natural stone blocks ready to face the wall |
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| Bags of facing stones ready for walling |
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| The finished effect |
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CIVIL ENGINEERING WORK started in July 2005 to stabilise the building (see above). This is involved rebuilding the retaining wall around the north and east of the church with a reinforced concrete structure on piles and anchored into the mound. The wall was finished with natural stone sympathetic to the building and surroundings (see picture). The mound was then cultivated and sown with grass and wildflower seed.
With the RETAINING WALL complete attention turned to the CHURCH BUILDING which closed after the Easter services in 2006 until the work was completed. This took around six months. There was a great deal of expensive restorative work to stitch the huge cracks in the building back together and preserve the church in a fit state to hand on to future generations.
A NUMBER OF ORGANISATIONS contributed to the preservation and restoration of this fine building. These included the regular worshippers, The Friends of St Bartholomew's and English Heritage. A number of local organisations and individuals also made contributions and these were greatly appreciated.
If you would like more information about or would like to help in any way towards the continued survival of St Bartholomew's Church, please contact the Church Office.