Conservation and the future

Conserving St Laurence's Church

The aims of the Conservation Trust are to "maintain, repair, restore, preserve, reconstruct, beautify and improve the fabric of the Church for the benefit of the public". Since its creation in 2006 from the amalgamation of the former Fabric Trust and the Friends of St Laurence's, the Conservation Trust has been raising money in order to seek to achieve these aims.

During its first two years of operation, the Trust has contributed more than £46,000 towards the costs of:
- Repairs to the organ (funding approved by the Friends of St Laurence's prior to the foundation of the Conservation Trust)
- Masonry repairs to thw west window
- Unblocking and repairs to strom water drains
- Restoration of lead and cast iron downpipes and other rainwater goods

Shaun Ward has recently been appointed as Clerk of Works for St Laurence's and has prepared a major Conservation Management plan which takes a holistic view of the needs of the fabric of the church over the next 15 years.

The plan is divided into a number of sections, dealing in turn with: regular maintenance; minor works currently in progress; urgent repairs to be undertaken by the end of 2008; non-urgent repairs for 2009; major works for the next 2 - 5 years; and a forward look to the maintenance needs over the next 5 - 15 years.

Key activities under each of these headings include:

Regular Maintenance
- Cleaning of rainwater gullies and hoppers
- Repairs to tiled floors
- Cleaning and sealing of tiled floors

Current Minor Works
- Repaving of the alley from the Buttercross to the South door
- Unblocking and repairs to Tower downpipes
- Electrical repairs following recent electrical inspection

Urgent Repairs for 2008
- Stonework repairs to pinnacles and hood mouldings
- Redressing, flashing/lead sheets and pointing repairs arising from inspection
- Draught-proofing of West, South and North doors
- Painting of exterior railings

Non-urgent Repairs for 2009
- Enhancement of the St Laurence shop
- Repair of the Parvis Room ceiling
- Cleaning and conservation of monuments and paintings
- Final phase of organ works i.e. mobile console and gilding of facade pipes

Major Works for the Next 2 - 5 Years
- New lighting scheme
- New flooring in nave
- New heating system
- Re-leading of the Lady Chapel roof
- Stone masonry repairs to the remaining pinnacles

Maintenance Needs over the next 5 - 15 years
- Further repair or re-leading of chancel, transepts and St John's Chapel roofs
- Routine repairs to mortar joints and lead flashings
- Tower masonry repairs
- Routine stained glass repair