We know that we have more leaking windows to put right; there is still a lot of mopping up to do every time we have a storm from the south. There is also a problem with decay of the stonework in many places. Some of these are becoming urgent. These pictures show two of the worst, with the decayed stonework at the base of a tower window, and lamination of the sill of the south transept window, causing pieces of stone to break off.

Although there have been some significant projects in the last few years to repair the building fabric of St Laurence’s church, there is still much to do.

Some outstanding work from previous projects, such as repairing the stone pinnacles either side of the nave and re-leading the north clerestory windows, needs to be included in proposals for the coming few years. Work is also required to overhaul the down-pipes and drains that take rainwater from the building; unless this is done soon we run the risk of having to pay for much more costly work caused by moisture damage, in a few years time.

The most significant work required in the next five years will be the replacement of the lead to the lady chapel, chancel and north transept roofs. All these roofs are coming to the end of their useful lives, and are wearing very thin in places. Along with this, we need to repair the stone pinnacles at the east end of the chancel and the other high level stonework that will be accessible from the scaffolding.

In addition, we need to carry out our cyclical and occasional repairs that one expects with a building of this age, including the re-leading of a couple more windows, localised re-pointing of areas of stone and repairing and repainting of the boundary railings.

We are also committed to making this historic building a place that serves the needs of the people who visit and use it. A particular concern, at the moment, is the need to make the bookstall/shop more accessible, whilst also making it more secure when the building is being used for concerts and other community events. The quality of any work we do internally needs to reflect the quality of the interior, and the craftsmanship that has gone into it in the past.

All churches require on-going maintenance and repairs, and St Laurence’s is no exception. In fact its size and importance increase the responsibility. The most significant task we face in the coming few years, at least in terms of cost, is ensuring the building is kept water-tight!

The programme of work for the coming five years, for which financial support will be needed, can be summarised as follows:

• Overhaul down-pipes & rainwater outlets
• Repair blocked/damaged drains
• Repair nave pinnacles
• Re-point top of chimney and top of stair turret to south aisle roof
• Re-lead the lady-chapel roof
• Re-lead the chancel roof
• Re-lead the north transept roof
• Repair stonework, particularly pinnacles, whilst re-leading roofs
• Remove shaling stone from faces of tower
• Re-lead the north clerestory and transept windows
• Repair the east window in the south transept
• Replace concrete slab over boiler room
• Repair flag hanging in south transept
• Repair reredos and adjacent monument
• Repair ceiling in Parvis room, and limewash walls
• Repair and repaint boundary railings