We are extremely grateful for all the grants and donations that have enabled us to carry out the repairs to the roof over the chancel of All Saints’ Church, Gazeley. By far the largest of the grants that we received was from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to ensure not only that the roof is now watertight once more but also to safeguard and showcase the precious carvings on the ceiling of the chancel.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund is the largest funder for the UK’s heritage. Using money raised by National Lottery players we support projects that connect people and communities to heritage. Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. From historic buildings, our industrial legacy and the natural environment, to collections, traditions, stories and more. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.

“Further information about The Heritage Fund may be found on the website www.heritagefund.org.uk “

The Leaking Roof

Fig 1

The old terracotta tiles on the North face of the chancel roof. Many had slipped or started to break up and fragment with age.

Fig 2

Water damage on one of the carvings, and obvious dribbles on the boards resulting from the roof leaks.

In 2022, a leak was discovered in the roof over the chancel, evidenced by water on the floor, and patches of damp and dribbles on the carved ceiling. An immediate survey was commissioned, and it was discovered that many of the old terracotta tiles were in a perilous state, and disintegrating. (See Fig 1). In addition, iron nails used to fix them had swollen as they rusted, making it almost impossible to remove them without destroying the tile.
Architect Philip Orchard (Whitworth) advised that to protect the carvings, the roof would need to be replaced in full.

It became obvious that the work was going to cost well in excess of £100,000, a sum beyond the means of the Gazeley PCC funds. An urgent appeal was launched to attempt to raise the funds before too much more damage was done to the carvings.

The church began fundraising through events such as the Village Fete, and book sales. Local people made significant direct donations and sponsored tiles, but it was clear that despite this generosity, we could not reach the target without grant aid from funding charities that support the care of such Grade 1 Listed buildings. Grant applications were made to over 80 charitable trusts, 15 of which offered generous and much appreciated support.

Our grant applications were aided significantly by video messages of support from local church historian Clive Paine (Vice President of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History), Simon Knott (administrator of the website www.suffolkchurches.co.uk ) and Professor Sarah Peverley (University of Liverpool) which we were able to post on the church website.

(See You Tube links above)

By June 2024, less than a year after the launch of the appeal, we had sufficient funding in place to award the contract to local builders George Collin and Sons of Kentford.

The repairs commenced in mid-September 2024 and were completed in November.

The ceiling revealed

The mediaeval roof structure exposed, with the canted waggon ceiling seen hanging below it.

The ceiling from above

It appears that the gaps between boards had been grouted using lime mortar. This can be seen wiped over the board surfaces, and is almost certainly the source of the staining seen on the underside (Fig. 2).

The fitting of the new roofing felt, waterproofing the ceiling, and hiding its structure for (we hope!) a couple of hundred more years.

In addition to The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and the very many local people and businesses who sponsored a tile, supported fund raising events, or made donations, large and small to the Roof Appeal, the following charities (listed in no particular order) saw the urgent need for these repairs and so generously supported us –

We are very grateful to them – one and all.

Jack Patston CT.
William Delafield CT.
Scarfe CT.
Gredley Trust.
Alfred Williams CT.
Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History.
The Swire Charitable Trust.

Benefact Trust
Suffolk Historic Churches Trust.
Belstead Ganzoni Charitable Settlement.
The Sabina Sutherland CT.
The Foyle Foundation.
The Hobson Charity.

The Finished Roof

November 2024