08/08/2026
A start to the building work — at last!
After several years of talking about our proposed building works, we are very pleased to announce that they are finally about to begin.
On Monday 17 August, work will start on essential repairs to the exterior of the apse of the church (the area behind the sanctuary). Over the next four months, the contractors will repair damaged pointing, brickwork and masonry, restore the windows and stained glass, and carry out repairs to the gutters and rainwater pipes.
Much of this work has become increasingly urgent after many years of exposure to the weather. Some of the bricks are crumbling; there are gaps where there shouldn’t be; and not a few trees are beginning to grow out of gutters very high up. Some of you might have seen the Fathers gazing at the stained glass during heavy rain: it’s not just piety, but observing the water coming through the holes in the stained glass! This should soon become a thing of the past.
Scaffolding will be erected around the outside of the apse over the next two weeks. The church will remain open, but please be aware that access might be restricted at times, especially when heavy equipment and materials are being unloaded from the road. Masses and confessions will continue as normal. There may inevitably be some additional noise during the working day outside of Mass times.
This is the first stage of a much larger programme of works to repair and restore our church. The more exciting work will begin in September, with the restoration of the sanctuary and the installation of the new high altar. We will be launching our fundraising appeal and sharing much more about those plans over the coming weeks.
For now, though, after a very long period of planning, permissions and preparation, we are delighted simply to be able to say: the work is beginning!
