Friends of St John’s is excited to announce that the much-anticipated restoration works to the church’s iconic spire have officially begun. This marks the start of the Spire Appeal Project, a restoration project made possible with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund which is aimed at preserving the heritage and architectural grandeur of this historic landmark for generations to come.
The project will see extensive repairs to the spire top, ensuring the church’s most prominent feature is preserved for future generations. This will include taking down the top 2.5 meters of the spire and re-building it with new stonework, along with replacing the encased iron vane rod with stainless steel. Whilst the scaffolding covers the 198ft structure there will be an opportunity to carry out required stone replacements on the tower parapet and undertake repointing of joints were necessary.
As a legacy for the project, the removed spire apex will be rebuilt in the memorial garden in the churchyard. This won’t happen until the scaffolding has been taken down.
Funds Raised for the Spire Appeal
During 2024 the team at Friends of St John’s raised an impressive £386,000 in pledged grants and donations from local and national sources. The year began with a generous grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund of £249,975, received with thanks to National Lottery players.
Robyn Llewellyn, Director, England, Midlands & East at The National Lottery Heritage Fund said: “Investing in the rich heritage of places of worship means investing in the community they belong to, so it’s great that our funding, made possible thanks to National Lottery players, will help restore this important Bromsgrove landmark. Congratulations to the Spire Appeal team for their successful fundraising efforts which show how important St John’s Church is to the town and local people.”
The significant award kick started further applications and during the year grants were gratefully received from Bromsgrove Rotary, Bromsgrove Society, Bromsgrove Court Leet, Droitwich Preservation Society, L G Harris, Laslett’s, Albright Grimley and Bromsgrove Institute Trusts. Organised events and donations from individuals accounted for an impressive £21,000. At the end of the year the Edward Cadbury Trust, the National Churches Trust and the Wolfson Foundation confirmed their support for the project to restore the town’s Grade I listed building with the tallest spire in Worcestershire.
The valiant effort resulted in the year-end total of £386,000 raise for the restoration of the tallest spire in Worcestershire.
“We are incredibly grateful for all the support received nationally as well as the ongoing generosity of the community,” said Jo Slade, Project Manager for the Spire Appeal. “The spire at St John’s Church is a central part of Bromsgrove’s heritage and a beloved landmark. This restoration will not only preserve its physical beauty but will also contribute to the historical richness of our town. The essential restoration work, which will keep St John’s at the heart of the community, has only been possible thanks to the generosity of so many.”
Works Timeline
Under the watchful eye of contractors Phillips & Curry, the project began in early February with the scaffolding of the tower and spire, a task which will take until Easter to complete. Scaffolding will also be erected on the inside of the spire to hold the counterweight when the top section is removed. Worcester stonemasons Lewis Allard and Son will be assisting with the restoration work during the summer. This will include taking down the top 2.5 meters of the spire, re-building with new stonework and replacing the encased iron vane rod with stainless steel. Whilst the scaffolding covers the 198ft structure there will be an opportunity to carry out required stone replacements and undertake the repointing of joints.
Project Team
A team of professionals has come together to work on this important project. Jewellery Quarter based Oliver Architecture are overseeing the project, Ian Ceney of c2designs is the Conservation Accredited Structural Engineer on the project. The Contractor appointed for the works is Phillips & Curry Limited who are working with Jarvis Scaffolding and Worcester based stone masons Lewis Allard & Son.
Together the team will work to ensure the Grade I listed building is caringly restored.
Impact on church and churchyard
During the project, the church will be closed in the week (except for funerals) but will continue to be used for Sunday worship and remain open to visitors for occasional events on Saturdays.
The works compound will use all the car parking space at the east end of the church meaning there is no vehicle access to the church whilst the works take place. Pedestrian access on Sunday will be via the south porch door and walkers will have to use the perimeter path to cross from the church hall to the lych gate.
St John’s Church, with its beautiful medieval design, has long stood as a cornerstone of the Bromsgrove community, and the restoration of the spire is an important step in ensuring its future as a heritage site for all to enjoy for years to come.
For further information on the Spire Appeal Project, or to learn how you can contribute, please visit www.stjohnsfriends.co.uk