Restoration: Jubilee Link Discovered!
Half-funded by a grant from the Heritage Lottery fund, the restoration of the paintings began in early January and will be complete by Easter. And what a transformation will have taken place: vivid imagery of the Magi, angels Prophets and Patriarchs will look as good as new, with gilded wings and crowns. The wooden roof, caked in dirt will gleam with red and gold and green, and damaged paintwork will be carefully retouched and restored using advanced and authorized techniques.
Conservation work is being carried out by Hirsts of Spalding. If anyone would like to visit, the Vicar, the Reverend Gordon Giles (vicar@saintmarymagdalene.org.uk), would be delighted to organize that in addition to planned open days, services, lectures and concerts which will take place during 2012.
The Church was built in 1883 by William Butterfield, commissioned by Georgiana Twells, in memory of Philip Twells MP. They lived at Chase Side House, of which the gardens now form our Town Park. After the completion of the Church, her final gift was the internal artwork, by Buckeridge and Westlake, which once restored will probably be some of the finest artwork on show in the Borough.
Further information from the Vicar, The Reverend Gordon Giles 020 8363 1875