Restoration of St Andrew's Church tower in Boxford almost complete

Work to restore a historic church tower is almost complete.

The restoration of the Grade II-listed St Andrew’s Church at Boxford began in 2010.

But funds expired before urgent repairs to the tower and the water-damaged timber beams – weighing up to 650 kilos - holding it in situ could begin.

Now, about £150,000 later, work is expected to be completed by the end of June.

Fundraising began last January to replace the beams, lead roofing and coping stones, based on plans approved by the Oxford Diocese and West Berkshire Council.

A new internal to external drainage system will replace the original spout, which had caused damp on the walls.

Mike and Joy Appleton have been residents of the village since 1983 and have led the restoration.

Speaking about how it started, Mr Appleton said: “We’ve always had good support from the local community.

“They don’t all come to church, but when it comes to something like this, they do put their hand in their pocket.

“The biggest percentage comes from charities.

“We applied to over 50 of them and we’ve a had a good response from 15.”

Work started in April.

He added: “Initially, the architect and structural engineer had identified most of the old timber to come out.

“But when we took the lead off, we realised we’d have to take it all off; it was all rotten.”

Conservation architect Christian Randall said: “You can see the original beam has had a major repair, so that was why we couldn’t repair it again.

“If we tried, we would end up with some quite big joints in the main supporting timber.

“It’s not great news for the church, but at least what’s going in instead will last hundreds of years.”

“It hasn’t seen the end of its life, so history will continue,” added Michael Bartoletti, who confirmed the beam is destined to become a non-structural feature in a farmhouse.

His firm, JG Restorations, is overseeing the restoration and has worked on other churches at Peasemore and Leckhampstead.

Mr Bartoletti explained a challenge for him and his team was transporting the new and old material up and down from the roof.

Particular attention has been given to matching the design and pattern of the original brickwork, using reclaimed Georgian bricks where necessary.

But Mr Appleton recalled another problem the team encountered: “The second big surprise was the crenulated parapets; we thought all we’d have to do is refurbish them.

“But the cement render put on by the Victorians wasn’t sound, so we’ve decided to rebuild them.”

A hatchway will be built in the roof to enable the future removal of the bells, also in need of restoration.

St Andrew’s Church was built in the 13th century.

The original tower collapsed in 1657 and fell into the garden of a local Quaker named Oliver Sanson.

Mr Sanson was in the thick of an ongoing dispute with the rector, Jacob Anderton, over the payment of tithes.

He refused to return the building materials, declaring: “God had sent to him and that no man shall take them away.”

So, the present tower was not constructed until both men had died.