Bromsgrove Spire restoration completed

The long-awaited restoration of the landmark spire at St John’s Church in Bromsgrove has been completed, with the re-gilded weathervane cockerel returning to its lofty perch to enjoy the view for decades to come.

On Tuesday 28 October, a small crowd gathered in the churchyard for a moment of thanksgiving and celebration conducted by Licensed Lay Minister Hilda Roxborough who talked of the long journey to reach this significant and historic moment.

She acknowledged and thanked the team and all the many supporters who contributed towards the funds required to undertake the urgent work. Hilda asked God to bless the newly gilded golden weathervane and asked that it be a beacon for all who see it.

Father and son contractors Mike and Ben Curry took the golden cockerel to the top of the spire and secured it to the weathervane on top of the newly carved spire top.

Friends of St John’s Chair and Spire Project Manager Jo Slade said

“Returning the weathervane to the top of the spire is a significant and historic moment for the town. This project has been a long time in the making, with the cracks first being noticed back in 2017, so to witness this final element of the spire’s restoration taking place was joyful and emotional. The Spire Project would not have been possible without the support from so many national and local funders and individuals, nor would it have happened without the skill and dedication of the fantastic design and construction team.”

The top 2.5m of the spire was removed in July. The rusting of the iron masonry rod had caused the stone to crack. During the summer, the new spire stonework was hand carved at the stonemason’s workshop in Worcester before being transported to Bromsgrove and hoisted up to the top of the scaffolding. During October the team from Conservation Contractors Phillips and Curry Ltd, with support from Lewis Allard and his team of stonemasons, gradually rebuilt the new spire to retain its status as the tallest church spire in Worcestershire. Taking into consideration the weight of each carved stone, it was important to take time to add each level to allow the mortar between the stone courses to set a little before more weight was applied on top. The work was overseen by Oliver Architecture.

Working to the technical design drawings from Conservation Accredited Structural Engineer Ian Ceney, the team built the newly carved stone around the stainless steel masonry rod. The stainless steel was donated to the project by local business owner Phil Morris and had been hand worked to the required design by Blacksmith Darren Broome. The stainless steel rod which runs through the centre of the new stonework will hold the weathervane in place above it and the counterweight system below. The rod is threaded at the top with a thread pattern matched to the old cast iron weathervane casing joint which is secured in place on the top of the newly carved headstone. St John’s Church is a Grade I LIsted building. It is important to retain as much of the original structure as possible, so the weathervane, ball and cockerel were restored and remain part of the 200ft tall structure.    

The Spire Project has been made possible thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Lottery Players, National Churches Trust, Wolfson Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, Droitwich Preservation Society, L G Harris Trust, Benefact Trust, Listed Places of Worship VAT Grant Scheme, Laslett’s Charities, Grimley Trust, Limoges Trust, Edward Cadbury Charitable Trust, Mark Masons of Worcestershire, Bromsgrove Carnival Charity Fund, Bromsgrove Court Leet, Bromsgrove Institute Trust, Bromsgrove School, Bromsgrove Society, Bromsgrove Rotary and many generous individual supporters boosted by gift aid. Friends of St John’s team are incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported this important project.

During the rest of October and November the scaffolding will be dismantled and the restoration work to the tower parapets will be completed.