Looking after the Abbey

 

The Abbey has been a place of worship for over a 1,000 years and sometimes it shows its age. Looking around the Abbey you can see where various alterations have had to be made to ensure it will be here for centuries to come.

 

In 1686 the north buttress was built to support the tower after the north transept fell. The east parapet blew down in a gale in 1861- following which Gilbert Scott was consulted. The south east transept was rebuilt and most of the present furniture and stained glass was fitted and the lantern tower was opened up by removing the belfry floor to expose the beautiful internal tracery panelling.

Severe cracks in the west wall of the south transept were revealed in 1913 when a thick growth of old ivy was removed. Two western buttresses were built following concern that the tower was beginning to lean westwards.

By 1990 it was clear that cracks in the south wall of the south transept were becoming serious and the iron heating pipes were leaking. An appeal was launched and restoration of the south transept, tower and roofs was carried out.

As we start the 21st century things are no different and 2011 has seen significant problems in the St John’s Chapel area. Excavations have shown just how shallow the foundations of such an enormous building are. Whatever the cause the cost of repair is likely to be high. Follow the link to “Why The Scaffolding?”  and see some dramatic and worrying pictures.

· Every year sees some repair – often small and unnoticed but 2011 started with some long awaited repairs to the South Transept Window – the glass had to be completely replaced following damage by footballs and golf balls at a cost of over £30,000.  www.norgrovestudios.co.uk

· Unseen by most, repairs were carried out to the Tower Roof and Flagpole

· Gutters on the North Window over the vestries were rebuilt and the vestry windows repaired. The roofs cleaned (video Forrester)

· High above, the Clerestory windows have been repaired and guards fitted www.forresteraccess.co.uk

· The Jenner window in the South Aisle awaits repair and there are more window guards to be refurbished.

We will have spent about £75,000 this year and grateful thanks are given to the Friends of Pershore Abbey Friends@Pershoreabbey.org.uk , Severn Waste Fund  info@wtof.org.uk, Allchurches Trust atl@ecclesiastical.com , Worcester and Dudley Historic Churches Trust, National Churches Trust www.nationalchurchestrust.org and The Headley Trust www.sfct.org.uk/headley.html who between them have met the entire costs of these works.

The Approach To The Abbey

We would like your help in bringing to fruition a long awaited improvement to the West Entrance of the Abbey. The main approach to the Abbey from the car park is along a paved path, past the gated marking the original end of the Nave. A flight of steps means that access for wheelchairs, brides and pall-bearers is difficult. We want to remove the flight of steps and raise the area outside the doors to give the Abbey the approach it deserves. Alterations like these take a lot of arranging – not only do we need the permission of Church Authorities but also Planning Permission from the Local Authority and the building is a Scheduled Ancient Monument. Last summer saw some excavations to see what was in the ground and details of the archaeology recorded. Now we are nearly ready to start but we need some money! – in the order of £25,000. Could you help us complete this project with a donation? “How Can I Help”