Restoration works to the iconic spire of St John's Church in Bromsgrove have officially begun.
This marks the start of the Spire Appeal Project, a restoration project made possible with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund which is aimed at preserving the heritage and architectural grandeur of this historic landmark for generations to come.
The project will see extensive repairs to the spire top and will include taking down the top 2.5 meters of the spire and re-building it with new stonework, along with replacing the encased iron vane rod with stainless steel. Whilst the scaffolding covers the 198ft structure there will be an opportunity to carry out required stone replacements on the tower parapet and undertake repointing of joints were necessary.
As a legacy for the project, the removed spire apex will be rebuilt in the memorial garden in the churchyard. This won’t happen until the scaffolding has been taken down.
During 2024 the team at Friends of St John’s raised an impressive £386,000 in pledged grants and donations from local and national sources. The year began with a generous grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund of £249,975, received with thanks to National Lottery players.
Robyn Llewellyn, Director, England, Midlands & East at The National Lottery Heritage Fund said: “Investing in the rich heritage of places of worship means investing in the community they belong to, so it’s great that our funding, made possible thanks to National Lottery players, will help restore this important Bromsgrove landmark. Congratulations to the Spire Appeal team for their successful fundraising efforts which show how important St John's Church is to the town and local people.”
The significant award kick started further applications and during the year grants were gratefully received from Bromsgrove Rotary, Bromsgrove Society, Bromsgrove Court Leet, Droitwich Preservation Society, L G Harris, Laslett’s, Albright Grimley and Bromsgrove Institute Trusts. Organised events and donations from individuals accounted for an impressive £21,000. At the end of the year the Edward Cadbury Trust, the National Churches Trust and the Wolfson Foundation confirmed their support for the project to restore the town’s Grade I listed building with the tallest spire in Worcestershire.
The valiant effort resulted in the year-end total of £386,000 raise for the restoration of the tallest spire in Worcestershire.
“We are incredibly grateful for all the support received nationally as well as the ongoing generosity of the community,” said Jo Slade, Project Manager for the Spire Appeal. “The spire at St John’s Church is a central part of Bromsgrove’s heritage and a beloved landmark. This restoration will not only preserve its physical beauty but will also contribute to the historical richness of our town. The essential restoration work, which will keep St John’s at the heart of the community, has only been possible thanks to the generosity of so many.”
For further information on the Spire Appeal Project, or to learn how you can contribute, please visit www.stjohnsfriends.co.uk
