While the village has been unusually quiet in recent months, things have been happening to maintain our church. It became apparent during last year’s storms that the Victorian east window was in quite urgent need of repair and refurbishment. Permissions were sought, and a master glazier engaged to lead the project and after the hiccup of early lockdown the work is underway.
With the scaffolding in place, Andrew Johnson could have a much closer look at the glass – much of it painted, reeded glass which was the new technology of the mid-1800s. (A few years ago panels of reeded glass were found in a storage area of the Victoria and Albert Museum and have been the subject of a long project to conserve and reinstate them in their original place in the windows of the staircase landings.) Our four main panels have now been removed and initial repairs made to the leading. The first of these has been brought back for a fitting and I was able to see close up both the quality of the original work and the skill with which Andrew and his colleague have preserved it.
Above the four main window lights are a number of ‘traceries’ – intricately shaped sections of glass depicting sheep, eagles, flowers, crosses, scrolls and other designs. From the ground Andrew could see that two of these needed repair – the lead edging had slipped away from the stonework and daylight could be seen through the gaps. On closer inspection there are seven of the traceries that need preservation. This will not only keep the window in a good state of repair for the next two hundred years, but cut down on the draughts in the church and help reduce the heating bills.
We have already received a substantial gift from a local person to fund the work, a grant from the Archdeacon of Totnes and are promised a grant from the Devon Historic Churches Trust. A third grant was declined and we are in process of applying to a fourth charitable trust in the hope of receiving their help. We would also like to give the local community the opportunity to sponsor the repair of a tracery- or even a part of one, as they will cost £300 each to conserve. Once we are allowed to gather in greater numbers indoors, our glazier, Andrew Johnson, has offered to give us an illustrated lecture about our window and the fascinating way the glass was produced.
If you would like to be part of this restoration project and sponsor a tracery, please contact Val Hoare on 01803 866133.