For a printable version of this Update, please click here.
Preserving the building for future generations
The recently repaired bellcote
Back to normal in 2022
The Covid-19 measures in 2020 meant that, like other charities up and down the country, Friends of Bude Haven Parish Church (FoBPC) was unable to fundraise in the normal way. The majority of our income comes from sponsorship by firms. Lockdown caused some firms, particularly retail and hospitality, to close so we decided to suspend corporate fundraising. In spite of this, much was done during the past year to maintain and repair the church building, using funds which had been raised by both the Parochial Church Council (PCC) and FoBPC.
Our 2020/21 magazine was a casualty of the Covid crisis as it relies on sponsors’ donations to fill it with advertisements and fund its printing. With much less money coming in, we decided to produce this update in order to keep our members informed of what was achieved. We aim to produce and distribute another magazine in the 2021/22 financial year.
Projects completed in 2020
The PCC is responsible for repairs and maintenance to the church. FoBPC assists with finance when required.
• CCTV was installed following instances of vandalism.
• The heavy side door of the church was fitted with an opening mechanism suitable for wheelchair and other users.
• Urgent repairs were made to the bellcote after significant weaknesses in its structure were spotted. Read the story in column 3!
New Appeal!
Our new appeal is to raise funds to support urgent repairs to the wall of the south transept and east end of the church.
St Michael’s church is 187 years old in 2021 and every year brings new structural challenges as it is battered by the elements. Water has been seeping through the wall into the south transept and east wall for some time. Unfortunately, it isn’t just a case of repointing the stonework, which originated from the Acland family’s Trerice estate. Some of the damage has arisen from cement mortar repairs that were done in the 1960s, so extra care has to be taken to get it right this time. Experts have been investigating the weakness and currently estimate that the work will cost in the region of £50,000. Clearly, it will take several years to raise that sort of money and FoBPC is embarking on the task this year.
Water damage in the south transept
Luck or Help from Above?
By Tony Gurd and Gail Brace, PCC
It all started on the 24th July 2020 when a drone flyer sent a photograph to Fr David and said, “Have you seen the crack in your bellcote?” … Well he/we hadn’t, although we had been looking at the bellcote a little while before and noticed some of the copings looked ‘a bit out of true’
Once we had seen the photograph, we commissioned a drone survey and the photos we got back were startling! When he saw them, our architect immediately said, “We need to get onto that before the winter storms or we could be in a lot of trouble and we should probably shut down the church bells as their vibration might be exacerbating the problem.” … And that is how it all started, the church bells were silenced.
We went out for quotes whilst applying for a faculty (planning permission) from Truro diocese. We considered a helical steel fixing system but if that failed in the future it would be virtually impossible to do anything other than destroy and completely rebuild. What we ideally wanted was the bellcote repaired, conserved!
How to do that?
The key to open the door was a chance encounter with some lads from Drake Scaffolding, who knew that the firm was working with masons repairing St. Andrew’s Church in Plymouth. Long story short, the masons were from West Country Stonemasons, whose ethos is conservancy, not steel rod repair. The combination of these two contractors was exceptional, and combined with the exceptionally short time it took to get the faculty from Truro, it meant that the entire job was complete on February 20th. We couldn’t have asked for better assistance.
Friends of Bude Haven Parish Church (FoBPC) is a not-for profit group recognised by HMRC as a charity.
Contact: FoBPC, c/o Falcon Hotel,
Breakwater Road, Bude,
EX23 8SD
Website: www.fobpcbude.org
Email: admin@fobpcbude.org
Phone: 01288 352005
Chairman and Trustee: Rupert Brendon
FoBPC’s aim is to preserve, improve and enhance the historic church at Bude Haven and keep it open for the benefit of the community and visitors to the town.
People who support us contribute a minimum of £10 a year. Business sponsors purchase advertising space in our magazine. To join, please visit our website or write to us!