Project Description
The project seeks to rectify the water ingress issues to the tower and spire at St Mary's Church, Biscovey, Par, and to repair and stabilise the masonry and internal structure of the tower of this listed Grade 2* building.
In addition to the capital works detailed above we will promote the importance of the Architect, George Edmund Street's association with the church and how this led to further commissions throughout Cornwall and the UK.
Project Team
We, the project team of Anne & Di, Jan & Jill, Joy & Julia, representing St Mary's Church in Par, are aiming to raise public awareness of the critical situation that has been discovered to the crumbling tower and spire of our local Parish Church. We need to find £100,000 from church members, the local community, businesses, and grant funding bodies which will enable us to claim agreed funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund of £250,000 to begin the essential repairs to save the Church from closure.
The project team has been instrumental in all aspects of driving the project forward. We have written hundreds of letters asking for financial support to individuals, businesses, other churches associated with our architect, and filled in many grant funding applications. We have designed and commissioned aprons, mugs and tea towels, been involved with a 12 hour music marathon , knitted squares to create a scarf for the tower, arranged a Parish gift day, sung with Shantymen, brought our treasured items to a valuation evening, sung carols around the Parish, bought hand crafted jewellery, made and eaten cakes, pies, jam and cream scones, drank copious cups of tea and coffee. taken a break and had cheese and wine instead, and sought and found rewards for our crowdfunding page.
We are now asking for your support via our crowdfunding page as we continue our efforts towards the £100,00 target.
THANK YOU.
BRIEF HISTORY OF ST MARY'S
St Mary's was designed and built in 1849 the first commission of the eminent Victorian architect George Edmund Street whose work culminated in the design and building of the Royal Courts of Justice. The church was built on land given by the Carlyon Family of Tregrehan House who were instrumental in its positioning on the edge of their estate.
St Mary's is built mainly of the reddish coloured Biscovey stone, taken from the adjacent quarry. The most impressive aspect of the church is the square tower with broached octagonal belfry (one bell) and stone spire. There are eleven stained glass windows put in by William Wailes. The church contains the original limestone altar, font and pulpit of Street's design.
Sir John Betjeman said of St Mary's Church "St Mary's is the work of an artist..... Street is one of the great English architects. He designed many Churches, but I doubt if he ever produced a better church than the honest, simple church of Par".