Cost of works to Trust – £150
The 600 year old key to our fine mediaeval church door given in 1372 by the rector at the time, Richard Beby was stolen in the 1980s. A replacement has seen better days and a new lock and keys have been installed. Also the Tower key, stolen in 2009, has been replaced by two new cast keys thanks to Edward Baxter. The lock has been repaired and the organ door has also been re-hung and a new lock fitted.
Cost of works to Trust – £1000
Late in 2023, an intermittent fault was identified in the chancel lighting circuit. Electricians Sadlers of Oundle were called in and a leak in the 90s mineral cable was identified. The likely cause being interaction with lime mortar somewhere along a 60m length. This was replaced by upgraded fire resistant cable thanks to neil Boyce of sadlers and Andy Sullivan.
Cost of works to Trust – £2024
Our friend and volunteer, Neville Holmes has noticed whilst repairing pews which had holes in, that there is some evidence of woodworm in the pew bases and Neville has been spray treating the timbers by lifting every 5th floorboard. This was followed up by Heritage Wood Treatment Services being appointed to to treat the underside of the platforms. Thanks to the efforts of Ian Sheldon and David Noble for their assistance, saving hundreds of pounds. The job has cost a total cost of £2024
Cost of works to Trust – £2500
Contractor Phil Chappell of Art in Glass, a heritage glazing service, has returned after a lay-off to complete the repairs to all the leaded window lights, an item which was highlighted in the last Quinquennial Review. The project has taken two years at a cost of £2500.
Cost not known
The computer that controls the clock was damaged by the two power failures in the village. The backup battery was replaced by a gift from Peterborough Runners, and Jim Fell sorted the computer out and got it back working, so the hands indicate the correct time, and chiming the hours, and the offices of the day, the Angelus at 7.30am 11.57am, and 5.57 pm, 3-3-3 & 9.
Stuart Weston, sorted the damaged gear box so now hopefully the hands show the correct time despite the wind.
All of the above funded by the Trust, with some help from the Bell Ringers.
Cost of works to Trust – £544
The church noticeboard is now back in place (or as it is unofficially known, The Pell Noticeboard, due to its benefactors the Pell Family). Neville Holmes has been busy again and has restored the board to its former glory. Thanks to Ian and John for transporting it and to Stewart Wood for lifting it and lowering it into position. Costs – materials only.
Cost of works to Trust – £354
The Garden of Remembrance fence has been replaced by George Bedford on behalf of the Trust at a cost of £354.36. This has smartened considerably the approach to St Kyneburgha’s from Stock’s Hill.
Cost of works to Trust – £375
Stuart Orme, Curator of the Cromwell Museum has now completed the display of Roman artefacts in the church’s possession to a professional standard. The display is in two parts – building materials and domestic items. There is explanatory text and the whole thing looks splendid. There are also two smaller explanatory displays for the tower capital carvings and the pagan Roman altar stone. The project cost under £2k.
For costs see above
The display case in the north aisle which has held some interesting Roman finds displayed in a rather haphazard way, is on its way to being dramatically improved. Castor resident Neville Holmes has made a super job of renovating the display case’s wooden framework at no cost. R A Baker, our local glazing company have provided and fitted safety film to the glass case, again at no cost and Stuart Orme, museum curator has a contract for turning our Roman finds into a museum standard display.
Cost of works to Trust – £3500
Plans are ongoing to improve access to the church for wheelchair users and others. An Access Advisor and the Diocesan Architect have been consulted and plans are being drawn up for this costly project for which the Trust has reserved money. It will involve raising the level of the path which passes in front of the porch steps. The internal porch steps and the path gradient from the Cedar Centre to the church porch are a more difficult challenge for which we have no answer currently. The project so far is costing £5k for the production of an access survey and architectural plans. The audit and report cost £3,500
Cost of works to Trust – £250
The Trust has agreed to pay the bill for a re-pressurising loop on the church heating. A replacement Flowtech system in the boiler room would have cost around £3,000 plus, and we would still have to top up the tank once a month with water. A solution was found in the shape of this extra device installed by K & D heating which has cost about £250. We will only need to open the valves once a fortnight for a few seconds if the pressure drops. Church heating is now fully operational.
Cost of works to Trust – £1238
The Trust has paid for the manufacture of a replacement information board situated in the churchyard outside the Cedar Centre. The previous one had badly deteriorated. Verger David Edwards has kindly installed it
Cost of works to Trust – £792
This simple hipped bull nose is designed to arrest the gradual slippage of Church Walk gravel onto the footpath. Project managed by Brian Gibson and the contractor Glendale. Cost £384.00 (Budget £500)
Cost of works to Trust – £155
New power supply outlets to the outside of the Cedar Centre, one on the patio, (for outside events), and the other at the rear of the Cedar Centre for occasional lighting and contractors working in the church yard, and to supply the Theo’s Byre (crib service etc). Project managed by Ian Sheldon, contractor P & E Electricals cost £155 (Budget £250)
Cost of works to Trust – £618
The kerb to protect the body stones opposite the turning circle at the top of Church walk is now installed with only soil and turf to replace. Thanks to William Baxter, David Noble, Jake Leeds, John Goodall, Tim Ennis and Simon Leeds for their efforts. All finished in eight and a half hours and a well under budget price of £618.60 (Budget £1000)
Estimated cost to Trust of – £500
The outer porch doors have been finely renovated by Ian Sheldon with supplies from Baker’s Glaziers. The doors are regarded by most as a temporary measure until the PCC and the Diocese can agree on a suitable permanent design and funding can be obtained. The frames have been pressure washed and new Perspex windows installed. The finished price will be under an estimated budget of £500 which is well worth the new clarity of vision both from inside and out.
Cost of works to Trust – £804
The Victorian quarry tiles in the Lady Chapel have received a timely cleaning job carried out by Cleaning Time of Market Harborough at a cost to the Trust of £804. This is a really worthwhile investment resulting in the colours radiating in orange and black once more. See the before and after images above to judge for yourself.
Improved disabled access – plans submitted to the Diocesan Advisory Committee in order to improve disabled access to the church entrance porch (Picture left) as well as the re-grading of the path to the Cedar Centre (Picture right).
The porch weather doors are to be given new polycarbonate panels to replace the sun yellowed panels. This is regarded as a temporary measure as the long term plan is to install high quality glass doors.
The badly bowed retaining wall between the churchyard and the Cedar Centre (caused by the roots of a now removed fir tree) is to be examined by a structural engineer for advice.
Lead works on the roof are on hold as there are no serious rainwater leaks.
Cost not known
Village stonemason Mark Sharpin carried out repairs to the top dozen or so courses of stonework where the mortar had become badly eroded allowing weeds to grow. Mark has made an excellent job and the wall is looking much healthier than it was.
Cost of works to Trust – £3129
The works costing £3129 were by Glendale Building Services Ltd and included the replacement of the cast iron rainwater goods around the church – the lower level downpipes repositioned to better suit existing hoppers (and in one case, replacement) and extending down into perimeter gullies for better flow.
Cost of works to Trust – £2695
The north aisle window has been rebuilt and returned to its rightful place and how spectacular this simple window looks on a lovely sunny day. The work was carried out by Phil Chappell of Art in Glass – four broken panes, releading and replacing ferramenta, repointing, cleaning and redecoration of ferramenta (The bars that hold the leaded windows in place) All at a cost of £2695 for 32 items.
Cost of works to Trust – £4651
The following projects are now at various stages of planning –
Altar rail scar repair – new stone from Stamford Stone Co. £1000
Byre electrics improvements – £200
Nave roof leadwork repair to stop a small leak – £546
Church Walk turning space – cobble repair – £250
Repair stonework where pulpit was located – £200
Reset brick floor of a pew – £75
Repair floor in sanctuary – £250
Purchase of cordless microphones – £ 340
Re-gilding of weathercock – £492
Re-point drainage gulleys – £546
Repair marble edge of piscina – £160
North lancet window arch repair – £100
Re-pointing and infilling of holes in church stonework – £492
Cost of works to Trust – £10,330
Cost of works to Trust -£2000
Just look at it mid progress and now! Mark Sharpin’s superb stonework now has the tomb back to its resplendent glory. William Bath (Late of Werrington – aged 77 – died April 22nd 1872) would be proud.
For costs see above
It is currently being proposed that the Trust funds the restoration of two or even possibly all three of the remaining table top tombs in the churchyard. These chest tombs are deteriorating badly and it would be a superb embellishment of the churchyard monuments to get this project underway. The one already rebuilt and finely restored, has shown what can be done.
Cost of works to Trust – £1000
Cost of works to Trust – £1968
Cost of works to Trust – £1,968
Cost of works to Trust – £500
It’s a very long time since William Burke suggested that it would be nice to mark the spot in the churchyard where the Saxon Cross stood. (The base of the cross is now inside the church) The Trust took up the project and allocated a fund towards it. I am delighted to report finally the Clipsham stone plaque was installed during August at the precise place where the cross originally stood.
You can find it laid in the grass between the East window and the Kissing Gate and the main path and the ringers’ path.
Daniel Wilson of Stamford Stone said he would not only donate the stone but would gift the Trust the entire cost of engraving and delivery. A huge thank you Daniel.
Cost of works to Trust £1530
The 300 year old clock face was in a very poor state. the face had not been restored for 30 years and was in desperate need of re-painting and the figures required re-gilding. Steeplejacks were here for other work and carried out the necessary painting. They stripped the face and re-painted it and gold leafed the figures and hands as well as checking the fixings to ensure stability. This cost £1265. However, a total of £1530 was quickly passed so the enamelling proceeded with the arrival of good weather. More than £3000 was raised allowing further work on the clock’s mechanism.
Cost of works to Trust carried out in two stages – £5614
Cost of works to Trust £5000
The Lady Chapel Roof is completed at last. The Quinquennial reports in both 2008 and 2013 identified that this section of roof needed re-slating and re-leading. Heritage Roofing Ltd were the contractors and work commenced in late October and was completed by the end of November. The cost of the work was approximately £31k
The funding for this costly but vital repair was in large part secured as follows –
St. Kyneburgha Building Preservation Trust £5,000
Fitzwilliam Trust £5,000
Castor & Ailsworth Parochial Church Council £7,760
Cambridge Historic Churches Trust £5,000
The Pattson Trust £2,500
Cost of works to Trust £800
A company of stonemasons is currently in the process of re-cutting Edmund Tyrell Artis’s headstone at a cost to the Trust of approximately £800. The lettering on the headstone, which is just outside the south door porch, was badly weathered and parts becoming indecipherable. Edmund Tyrell Artis (1789-1847), has emerged as one of the leading early British archaeologists who first made a comprehensive study of the landscape around Castor, revealing its true importance particularly from Roman times. The lettering has caused some controversy. It was to have been restored as it originally was with black enamelled lettering but it appears that this is contrary to current graveyard rules!!! Conservation v Modernisation?
Carried out in two separate works at a total cost to Trust of £3411
Cost of works to Trust£1,000
St Kyneburgha churchyard has some ten stone chest tombs all in various state of decay due to the elements and encroaching ivy. Hence the loss of some inscriptions and displacement of stones.
The tomb to the south east of the church, adjacent to the footpath is so damaged as to be declared a safety hazard. Funds have been provided by the Trust to repair the tomb. Work has consisted of carefully removing all the stones, laying a new concrete base and building a brick inner core for support. The stones have been cleaned, repaired as necessary and the tomb rebuilt using stainless steel dowels and cramps to reinforce the structure. Missing stones have been replaced with salvaged stone, including the badly damaged top. Work was completed in the first half of 2014 by local craftsman, Mark Sharpin.
Total raised to date – £153,747
Cost of works to Trust £50
Cost of works to Trust £3296
The Trust has funded £3296 for two sets of work for the replacement of sodden timber and lead flashing in a tricky to access area over the top of the oldest part of the church. Once the interior has completely dried out we will look at the lime plaster damage to the walls. This is a small but fascinating room at the top of a narrow spiral staircase on the way up to the Bell Tower. It was the space for an “on duty” priest to sleep and work at a time when there was always someone present in the church.
Don Mackreth, a former head of archaeology for developments in and around Peterborough, considered the room to be the oldest meeting room still in public use. Today the bell ringers use it for training.
Easily overlooked, the space contains some interesting detail – two unpainted wingless angels, a stone calf’s head perhaps and a urinal probably used by bellringers of long ago. The room is sited above what would have been St. Kyneburgha’s shrine where the organ is located today. The doorway to this room is probably 10C and the stone walls may sit directly on Roman foundations. The walls are from the 11/12C but the roof is relatively modern dating from about 1450.
Remedial work has been carried out by Colin Hussey’s team, supervised by William Baxter.
Cost of works to Trust – £1175
To remove the large coniferous tree adjacent to the churchyard wall to the Cedar Centre which was responsible for causing worrying bulges to the wall.
Cost of works to Trust £27,088
Many of you will remember the scruffy lean to shed, which previously occupied this site. Rudimentary but serviceable, it filled the need for storage for many years and contained an amazing amount of stuff that might come in handy one day.
Some time during 2009 the need for more secure storage became urgent and so a new building was suggested. Plans were drawn up and the St.Kyneburgha Building Preservation Trust was approached to fund the project. The Trust agreed willingly, feeling that the proposed building would enhance the Churchyard as well as providing the much needed storage. The project initially acquired the name Theo’s Barn as Theo Hensman, long standing Church Warden, was the main user of the shed. Plans were drawn, permission sought, tenders sent out and the site cleared. Thanks to the generosity of so many people the Trust raised and ring fenced the money needed, some £10,000. However, due to the recession the PCC decided it should be temporarily shelved. It had always been the Trust’s aim to complete this project and with Antonia Pounsett installed as Trust Chairman, a group headed by Brian Gibson was appointed to do just that but this time with a larger capacity. Plans were re-drawn, a new spec. established, planning permission sought and tenders invited. The new quotation came in at over double the original one, £27,088 which was quite a financial undertaking for the Trust but there was a strong commitment to complete. Maffitt Construction, a local company, won the contract and produced the lovely building you see today after working with care due to the challenges of Roman remains and forgotten services.
Theo’s Byre was finally dedicated and opened by Theo Hensman and Lady Isabella Naylor-Leyland on the 14th October 2012.
Carried out by local stonemason, Mark Sharpin at a cost of £679 to Trust
Cost of works to Trust£14,266
An observant Church Warden noticed this contagious fungus and acted immediately. Dry rot develops in a moist environment, decays wood from the inside – so is unseen until it has done its worst. The spores remain in stone, plaster, soil and wood ready to attack more wood. The PCC commissioned a thorough investigation to identify the extent of the rot, and raised a variety of possibilities as to the source of the moisture. This survey gave the church a clean bill of health on other hazards like death-watch beetle and woodworm. It was decided that this would be an ideal project for the Trust at an estimated cost of around £10,000 (excluding VAT which as a charity the Trust can reclaim). Eventual cost £14,266
Once invited by the PCC to get involved, the Trust combined project management, organising quotes, appointment of suppliers plus funding and contributes to a discussion about the “look and feel” of the finished work. The benefit of being a charity meant that we could reclaim VAT and apply for a loan, conserving funding for an alternative project. With advice from the Diocesan Architect, the project completed in late 2010.
‘Project Rot’ successfully requested a loan from The Cambridgeshire Historic Churches Trust
Project Rot Time scales
| July | PCC identified problem, commissioned survey and asked the St Kyneburgha’s Trust to help |
| August | Trust gathered quotations and identified preferred funding option. William Baxter appointed to co-ordinate project |
| September | CHCT met and discussed loan application. St.KBPT looked at alternative funding. Repair and replacement work began. |
| October | Work targeted to take 4 weeks |
Cost of surveys to Trust- £589
Cost of publishing and printing to Trust- £2226
Total cost of two lots of works to Trust-£7512
Cost of works to Trust £2,800
We differentiate in the Trust between projects like the East window, which are urgent and projects which are not essential at the time but improve the fabric of the Church.
Arguably some of these become essential if left and of course any conservation work prolongs the life of the fabric and can forestall later trouble. We can only carry out this work if it is grant aided, our own funds being insufficient despite enthusiastic fund raising. We nickname these projects ‘warm and cosies’ as there is a good feeling when they are achieved! From conception to completion can be months if not a year or two as the grant obtaining process can be lengthy, in addition to the time needed to obtain a faculty and go out to tender. We are always thrilled when a charitable trust awards us a grant as they have many calls on their resources. Our contribution was £2800.
The restoration of the south porch was one such. This dates from 1220/30 when the south aisle was added. Hugh Harrison, one of our leading timber conservationists, carried out the treatment and conservation of the roof timbers. After discussions with English Heritage it was decided not to attempt to restore the angels you can see on the roof of the porch to their former painted glory. It was felt they might look modern and garish, as the fragments of original paint were not extensive enough to indicate the former colours. A good example that complete restoration is not always the best solution. We are very grateful to the Council for the Care of Churches for their generosity towards this project.
At the same time the Church was given beautiful wooden notice boards made locally, a bequest from the Pell Family.
Cost of works to Trust £17,500
The existing electric heating, originally insta
lled in around 1947 was proving inadequate for today’s congregation. Over the years, modifications and ageing appliances were not heating the building to the levels needed for modern requirements. In 2004, a small team was established to research and install a new system. In 2007, a gas fired system with radiators around the walls and across the centre of the church was installed.
This has proved to be very satisfactory and much appreciated by all who use the church. In the process of finding a suitable place for the boiler assembly a room under the Lady Chapel was reopened. In it, was a Victorian heater, connected to the main section by means of a large duct. Evidence of grills in the Lady Chapel and choir stalls was also uncovered. This system had existed until 1947 when it was replaced by electric tubes. The heater was removed and the boiler installed in its stead.
The total cost of the gas fired installation was c£80,000. The Trust contributed £17,500, including the proceeds from a specially arranged Open Gardens event at Milton Hall. Funds were raised by functions and appeals within the villages, donations and external grants.
Cost of works to Trust £2700
Cost of works to Trust £8000
Cost of works to Trust – £7500
At one of the St.Kyneburgha Trust’s regular meetings William our Rector casually announced that the broken piece of masonry lying on the chancel floor was actually a medieval mensa (table/altar) and wouldn’t it be good if it were restored? It was in three pieces and before being brought back into the Church had made up part of the path leading to the priest’s door into the chancel. The size of the slab – 6½ft x 3ft –and the fact it was bevelled on three sides and square cut on one long side indicated it was the old high altar originally set against the East wall of the chancel.
It was decided to reinstall it in the Church and the Lady Chapel was reordered to accommodate it. The Trust was asked to undertake the restoration of the altar in 2003, which we did 
with generous grants from the Council for the Care of Churches, The Jack Patson Memorial Trust and the Frances Coal Foundation to whom we are extremely grateful. The slab itself was restored by the Skillington Workshop and re-set on 6 bluestone columns, the design of which reflected the origins of the altar and worked well with the Barnack rag from which the altar is carved. Total cost of works – £7500.
The refurbished altar looks beautiful in the Lady Chapel where it is in weekly use. If you visit look for the crosses on the corners of the stone slab which again underline its earlier use. You may also notice the altar is against the south wall of the chapel. Although traditionally altars face East they don’t have to – God is everywhere!
Total cost of works, supported by donations £39,000
Cost of works to Trust – £2000
We are incredibly lucky to have in the church a significant 8th Century Saxon carving. It is thought to be part of the sarcophagus of St.Kyneburgha. The pattern and shape of the carving would suggest it came from the Peterborough School, 8/9th century master sculptors, probably based at the Abbey of Medeshamstede. The fact that the figures in the carving are standing on tiptoe and their limbs are visible through their garments is indicative of this period. The figure is possibly that of St.Mark with Mathew on his left and Luke on his right.
The carving was found buried in sand under the then altar rails during a re-ordering of the chancel in 1924. At that time it was placed on the South wall of the sanctuary.
By 2002 it was in serious need of conservation work as the iron pins holding it to the wall were very rusty and in danger of marking the carving. The Trust was asked to fund this project, which was undertaken by the Skillington Workshop. We did not have enough money ourselves to fund this and are very grateful to The Barbara Whatmore Trust for making the conservation and resiting of this important carving possible.
It had long been felt that such an important piece should be better displayed and so after considerable discussions with English Heritage and the Diocese it was agreed that on its return to the Church but would be re-sited on the East wall of the north aisle, close to where the original shrine of St.Kyneburgha is thought to have been. It is an interesting thought that although we have just one piece, the rest of the frieze surrounding the tomb may well be somewhere in the Church. Cost of works £2000.
Soon after the formation of the Trust in 2001 it was discovered the 15th century east window was falling out. It was quite literally moving in the wind! Our newly appointed but very experienced Church Architect, Julian Limentani, initiated us into the mysteries of faculties, grant applications and all the necessary processes that have to be gone through when dealing with a grade 1 listed building. Scaffolding went up externally and internally overnight and several brides were warned to include metal poles in their wedding flower schemes!
The urgency of the situation plus our naive enthusiasm made everyone extra helpful. We were unbelievably fortunate to be given a grant by English Heritage and thanks to them and Julian our first project came in on time and under budget. Although it had been a steep and slightly frightening learning curve it did give our fledgling organization some knowledge and great confidence for future projects.
Incidentally every time there is a repair on the fabric of the Church we learn something of its past. During these repairs large masonry foundations were found beneath the Sanctuary. This would strengthen the argument that the chancel was originally apsidal (round ended) as was common with Norman Churches. Fragments of the three Early English lancet windows, which were originally in the east wall, were found being used as rubble fill in.
A total of £18,000 was raised to complete the task.
