Repairs to fire-ravaged church will take longer than estimated
WORK to clear debris caused by a massive blaze which engulfed a 14th century church last December has finally revealed the full extent of the damage that was caused.
And it has led restoration experts to say that the restoration of All Saints in Mackworth village will take longer than first estimated.
The £11 million project to bring the Grade I listed church back into use began almost immediately after the flames were doused and the site was safe to examine.
Throughout spring and summer, work has continued to stabilise the building and clear charred remains of centuries-old wood and stone.
The Rev Jacqueline Stober, vicar of All Saints, said: “I am encouraged to see the progress that is being made in restoring this once beautiful church. Following the clearance of debris, the full extent of damage has been revealed and our expert advisers have suggested that the restoration may take longer than initially estimated.
“The next steps will involve the installation of more internal scaffolding to further stabilise the building along with a detailed examination of the stonework to determine the level of restoration that is required and see if any stones need to be replaced.
“The result may lead to some work being carried out before we can begin on the main construction work on the outside.
“After that it will take at least 12 months to complete. Based on this programme the building will be weatherproof in 2024, and by then people will notice the roof back on and the windows in place.”
Following the fire, inspections took place and drone technology was used to assist structural engineers with the initial assessment of the structure.
Jeremy Trott, claims director at Ecclesiastical Insurance, said: “We’ve almost completed phase one of the project, which is to stabilise the building and make it safe.
“This has included spraying the damaged columns with cement to prevent the church collapsing while we clear the debris from inside and salvaging any items that can be restored.
“We’ll then be making the building water tight and working with the church and Parochial Church Council (PCC) on the next steps for the restoration.
“I’m really pleased to see the progress being made on site to help restore this beautiful historic building which was so badly damaged.
“We know this will be a lengthy and complex project because of the age of the church but, alongside our partners, we’re focused on restoring the church and giving the local community their church back.
“We often say that a church isn’t just a physical location, it’s the people that are associated with it that make it what it is.
“Being on site, speaking with the vicar and members of the PCC, you get a real sense of just how much this church means to them and the wider community.”
Among the items to be removed from the tower recently were the church’s three bells.
When the first of the three bells was hung, King James I was on the throne, the Gunpowder Plot had happened seven years earlier and the English Civil War was almost 30 years away.
The three bells, which were hung in 1612, 1616 and 1662, have been removed and taken to the bell foundry of John Taylor and Co in Loughborough for safe-keeping until they can be returned.
It is one of the many tasks facing restorers and also includes the removal of the church clock mechanism by Smith of Derby, which has also been placed in storage recently.
And work has begun on trying to restore some of the church registers and records, which were kept on the premises in a fireproof safe. The fire was so intense that the registers of baptisms, burials and confirmations were badly charred.
They were sent to Harwell Document Restoration Services, whose staff have done everything possible to save the information.
The registers needed specialist cleaning, inspection and degassing. But the more heavily damaged parts are beyond restoration and will be cropped. Since the fire, the church’s congregation has had to find alternative arrangements for services.
Ms Stober said: “Our congregation was invited to join one of our sister churches of the benefice for Sunday worship. It has been lovely for people to meet up with one another after being separated for so long because of the pandemic.
“The congregations are working together, and weddings and christenings continue at both Kirk Langley and Mugginton churches.” A teenager who was arrested in connection with the fire has since been released on police bail.
I’m really pleased to see the progress being made on site to help restore this beautiful historic building. Jeremy Trott