Friends of Melchbourne Church

Current projects

The most recent architect’s inspection identified a significant amount of remedial work, including some requiring ‘urgent attention’. Repairs to the stonework in particular are pressing to avoid the risk of falling masonry. Should the stonework become unacceptably dangerous, access to the church and churchyard may have to be restricted.

Work has already been completed on chancel walls, generously supported by grants from the Chelveston Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund, the Francis Coales Charitable Foundation, the Wixamtree Trust and the Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Historic Churches Trust.

The next two projects for which we are raising funds.....:

Church Tower (£64,000)

Stonework repairs to the tower parapets and belfry including: re-setting loose elements, taking down corner elements and re-building; renewal of defective stonework and general re-pointing;. repair and overhaul of the weather vane; renewal of defective ashlar work in quoins to the belfry stage; renewal of belfry light surrounds and timber louvres; a renewal of the "string course" at foot of belfry stage.

Update January 2022
Sufficient funds were raised during 2021 to proceed with this project. The PCC have obtained competitive quotes and the work will start when the contractors finishes their current job. It is hoped that will be some time during the second quarter of 2022.

Pew Floors and Stone Paving (£81,000)

The timber joists and platforms of the box pews have decayed and are unsafe, requiring replacement. The stone slab flooring is in some areas extremely uneven and thereby unsafe, requiring relaying and local repairs in such areas. As a consequence there are sections of the church where access is restricted.