MEMBERS of Bromsgrove’s St John’s Church have celebrated the end of an almost year-long project to restore the historic building’s spire.
A Cake and Coffee Concert was held on Saturday, with more than 260 people packing into the church to celebrate the completion of the Spire Restoration Project.
The £500,000 project has seen the top 2.5metres of the spire at St John’s taken down and rebuilt using Locharbriggs sandstone.
The central iron masonry rod, which had rusted and caused the original sandstone to crack, has been replaced by a stainless steel masonry rod.
Alongside this work, 70 per cent of the spire has been regrouted and many of the ancient tower parapet stones have been replaced with newly carved sandstone pieces.
The Spire Appeal Project is funded and supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. s
All the new work is visible from the ground – it is the crisp red areas of stone on the top of the tower and the top of the spire.
The Spire Appeal and Project has been co-ordinated and managed by the Friends of St John’s Trustees.
Chair of the Trustees, Jo Slade, said: “The success of this important project has been made possible thanks to support from the community and collaboration with many individuals and organisations.
“Throughout the project, the Friends of St John’s have worked in collaboration with the Cake and Coffee Concerts to hold Open Days and Heritage Engagement events, so it was most fitting that we celebrated the end of the project at a concert.
Ian Ceney demonstrated how the weight in the spire’s tower kept it strong, especially in high winds. Picture by Tristan Harris. Copyright Bullivant Media Group Ltd.
“The quality of the music certainly matched the occasion.”
As a lasting legacy for the project and the church, the top section of the spire, which had cracked and was removed and replaced, has been rebuilt at the base of the church tower.
Jo Slade and Sheila Vincent (Trustee Friends of St Johns) celebrate the completion of work. Picture by Marcus Mingins 0426006MMR2
This rebuilt spire apex will serve as a legacy to celebrate the many people who built, added to and restored the Grade I Listed church building over many centuries.
Jo Slade added: “Friends of St John’s Trustees are incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported this important project.
“We had a wonderful team of restoration and heritage professionals working together on this project, all bringing their skills, knowledge, understanding, and care to ensure the success of this important work.
“Our most sincere thanks really do go out to everyone who has contributed to the important restoration work and engaged with the wonderful heritage on offer in Bromsgrove’s landmark church.”
