St Lawrence Church Stretton GrandisonAs notified in public notices, during July Topple Testing of gravestones has been carried out in the churchyard. Topple testing of gravestones is a safety measure to assess the stability of memorials in the churchyards. It involves applying pressure to the headstone to check if it is securely fixed and unlikely to fall over. If a gravestone fails the topple test, it is deemed unsafe and is laid flat. Unfortunately, a number of memorials in our churchyard have failed this safety test and have been laid flat. The following is a list of all that are affected. Please can those who have responsibility for the memorials make arrangements for them to be safely fixed into position again. If needed, local stonemasons or builders may be able to assist. If you require any additional information please contact Rev Mandy Williams (Rector) – mandy.williams@hopchurches.org.uk or Jenneke Bryant (Churchwarden) – jennekebryant@gmail.comJames Taylor 1895Steven Pitt 1900Archibald Downes 1975Alice Emily 1908William Francis Pudge 1957Edith Mary Cheshire 1980, James Cheshire 1988William Booton 1978, Ivy Booton 2002Gladys 1938Robert Styles 1958Catherine Hayward 1952 William Hayward 1967Edgar Stainer 1964, Jessie Stainer 1982Anne Baker 1974Emily Taylor 1973Percy Pullen 1970 Gladys Pullen 1996Louise Bevan 1965, George Bevan 1991William Brazier 1982, Betty Brazier 1989Clifford Prosser 1980, Mildred Prosser 1990Albert Taylor 1980, Ella Taylor 1988Edith Dandy 1978Linda Jones 2002, Leonard Jones 2008 (Statues)John Davies 1992, Monica Davies 2016Richard Hall 1993Richard Styles 2005, Harriet Styles 2007Michael Parry 2014
Three of our windows were in a bad state of disrepair. They were broken in places, the frames were bowed and they required cleaning and re-leading. The work, undertaken by Ark Stained Glass & Leaded Lights, took six months to complete. Each window was dismantled in turn and taken to their workshop in Callow, Hereford. Once the work had been completed, they were returned one by one. <span style="font-size: 1rem;">They look stunning, especially on a sunny day when the light casts rainbows on the surrounding stone. </span><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Our church is open if you would like to come and have a look. </span><span style="font-size: 1rem;"> </span>
