St Nicholas Church

St Nicholas Church: New roof and restoration

St Nicholas is a much-loved Grade 1 listed building in the heart of Itchenor and it plays a vital part in village life. It was therefore important in our planning to ensure that the church remained open for services throughout both the period of internal repair works and the reroofing. This conservation and restoration project brought with it serious considerations of archaeology and of habitat protection. We therefore liaised with an archaeologist during the excavations undertaken and with a bat specialist during the roof work, to ensure that no habitats were disturbed. The new roof includes bat access.

Original tiles were re-used and all the extra reclaimed tiles were sourced from a barn within a mile of the church – some of these were over 100 years old. We were able to help the churchwardens put together a display about the roof work, showing handmade tiles from the Middle Ages (complete with animal paw prints) and old nails and pegs, some of which were then sold at a fundraising event for £1 each.

The local community and the parish council were consulted at all times to ensure that everyone’s needs were met. Providentially, the major part of the funding for the new roof of St Nicholas, Itchenor was supplied by the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Listed Places of Worship Roof Repair Fund.

 

“We at St Nicholas were all delighted by the care and consideration given to this project by The Martin Sewell Building Company. They at all times listened to our requests and concerns, and they could not have done more to make this important restoration a trouble free and enjoyable experience.”

Jane Oundjian, Churchwarden