This event has been cancelled for 2025. Apologies for any inconvenience.
St Saviour’s Church in Redbrook is currently offering places on its annual masonry course, where participants learn about church conservation, using ancient skills taught to them by experienced conservators.
Participants learn traditional skills like raking out, mixing and pointing with lime mortar. It’s open to anyone, but there are subsidised places available for young people starting out in the trade and to locals who are willing to donate time to maintaining Redbrook’s historic Grade II listed building.
St Saviour’s is a Grade II Listed Victorian church which has been on Historic England’s ‘At Risk Register’ since 1982, suffering high levels of erosion.
Mark Bick, Pioneer Lay Reader and Local Minister for Redbrook, said: “St Saviour’s has been close to closure at least twice in the last 40 year, but is highly valued by the lively local community of Redbrook. It occupies a prominent position in the village, overlooking the River Wye. The nave has been adapted and a toilet installed so that the small village school next door can use it for lunches, assemblies and other It also hosts a weekly community choir, and monthly family friendly music night.
“Historic pollution from the previous tinplate works nearby has however contributed to severe erosion of the stonework causing problems with damp inside the building and threatening its longer term future. Our architect Toby Falconer came up with an innovative plan to this, by volunteering his time to lead an annual weekend conservation workshop, employing conservation stonemasons to instruct and oversee trainees learning the skills of lime mortar work. Over the last 4 years we have had around 40 trainees including architects and conservation officers wanting to get hands on experience, cathedral masonry apprentices from all over the country and local people – mostly those owning old houses needing lime mortar repairs! The village has embraced this approach, helping with hospitality and providing funds towards the weekend.”
Debbie Branford, an apprentice at Worcester Cathedral, said: “I learnt so much and it was great being taught by experts and having them available all day to answer questions. There was a good variety of work available so it meant I could brush up my skills in areas that I wouldn’t normally get chance to do in my job. The village and surrounding area is beautiful and has a couple of good pubs nearby (one provides the excellent lunches), the local people are so friendly and welcoming.”
→ You can sign up for the 2025 workshop online here.
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I’m interested in this course as I’m often involved in managing contractors doing church repairs. But I can’t see the course duration or dates or anything about cost.
Hi James, please email moc.l1768613584iamg@1768613584naede1768613584ywdim1768613584.yrno1768613584sam1768613584 for more information.