Repair and Conservation
All the churches in the BCI Benefice face the challenges of constant repair and conservation.
Below, you can find out how each of our three PCCs are going about this:
St Hubert’s, Idsworth
The work that is being planned at St Hubert’s responds to the findings of the most recent Quinquennial Inspection Report and the recommendations of the Church Architects and Surveyors. It will be carried out in four phases so that the project is manageable and the church can remain open to visitors and for services throughout.
The key word is “conservation” with the main focus being to safeguard the building. Changes will be minimal and directly related to the preservation of the structure of this historic building and its use – as a church, as a community building and for visitors to enjoy.
Phase 1, commencing in 2023, will include repairs to the porch; the re-alignment and partial replacement of the rainwater gutters to improve their efficiency and restore the uniformity of traditional cast iron materials; new surface water drainage to direct rainwater away from the external walls; strengthening of the roof framework, a tie beam and wall abutments; some roof and joinery repairs and some planned maintenance.
Phase 2, planned for 2024, will be the renewal of the outdated heating system within the church, necessary upgrading of electrics and the possibility of installing unobtrusive fibre optic lighting. There is no lighting within the church at present.
The main aspects of Phase 3, which is being planned for 2025, will include the repair / renewal of the two windows on the North side of the Nave and Phase 4, prospectively for 2026, will involve the repair and upgrading of the Vestry.
The programme will be carried out under the guidance of the Church Architects, The Goddard Partnership, who specialise in work to historic buildings.
In this work, the PCC of St Hubert’s has the valued support of the Friends of the Church of St Hubert’s Idsworth Trust, a separate charity which was formed in 2016. Anyone wishing to donate to this project is invited to contact the PCC of St Hubert’s through the Contact Us page or the Friends website.
N.B. The timing of some of the work will depend on the availability of funding.
Holy Trinity
The repairs needed to the roof of Holy Trinity comes from the findings of the most recent Quinquennial Inspection Report and the recommendations of the Church Architect. Further investigative work has resulted in the discovery of ‘nail sickness’ necessitating the removal and preservation and reapplication of original tiles in addition to new ones if required. Replacement of roofing supports and insulating it will also be part of the project.
Under the guidance of our new Church Architect, Julian Livingstone, we will develop a programme of work and put the work out to tender.
We hope disruption will be minimal and directly related to the preservation of the structure of this historic building and its use – as a church, as a community building and for visitors to enjoy.
If you would like to contribute to this project, you can make a donation through our fundraising page at: