This week we’re filling in the final bits of paperwork for the NLHF project that enabled us to repair the Nave roof, giving us an opportunity to review what we’ve achieved over the last 18 months. With a great project team, we’ve made some exciting changes with the project- in spite of many of our original plans being modified to accommodate Covid restrictions. Here’s a quick summary.
In summer 2020 the old lead was stripped off the nave roof, melted down and replaced- a description which doesn’t do justice to the in-depth process involving many skilled crafts people. Thanks to volunteer photographer Kath Gill, we’ve got a great documentation of the work- which we shared in an exhibition at the Wirksworth Festival in September.
We commissioned local film maker Gavin Repton to make a number of films to help people find out more about the church and some of the building’s challenges. Visit the Wirksworth Team Ministry’s You Tube channel and you can take a virtual tour with poet Mark Gwynne Jones, watch a time lapse of the roof repairs or see the lead being recast, or hear a bit about the work we still need to if the building is to survive long into the future.
To celebrate the completion of the roof repairs, we held a ‘Topping Out Ceremony’. Rod Kirkpatrick filmed the event and gave us some extraordinary ariel views of the church with his drone footage. The event made it on to local radio and news channels.
We worked with Paper and Pixel to create new welcome signage, an exhibition to introduce people to the history of the building, along with self-guided trails visitors can take round with them. We’re really happy with the new logo Dawn designed for us featuring St Mary’s distinctive candle-snuff spire.
Wilder Wirksworth have joined us in a project to help improve the churchyard for biodiversity, sowing and managing a patch of wildflower meadow with the help of Derbyshire Wildlife Trust.
In September this year, we were finally able to run some of our planned in-person events, giving people a taste of lead related crafts- pewter embossing and casting as well as stained glass making. The courses booked up quickly, and we know people are keen for more of these opportunities in future.
Even t’owd man has got involved in the project- brought to life by Andy Pollock and Paul Taylor, who now greet you in the church by the ancient stone carving- as well as guide you round some significant lead mining sites in town on our you tube channel.
The team have learnt a huge amount from the project- not least how to use zoom! With more repairs needed to the transept rooves, as well as the stained glass and masonry, we’ll be applying for more funding again soon.