Issue 45 Feb 25 web - Flipbook - Page 27
National Lottery Heritage Fund. This crucial first step
enabled the team to begin the meticulous process of
preparing for the larger Delivery Grant, which would unlock the resources needed to commence the substantial
renovations required.
Bakers of Danbury Ltd
Heritage Building Contractors
For over 145 years, Bakers of Danbury have been
associated with exceptional heritage building, conservation, and restoration projects. As a privately-owned
building contractor based in Essex, they have earned a
stellar reputation for quality and craftsmanship. Their
expertise lies in the conservation and restoration of listed
and historic buildings, churches, museums, ancient
monuments, and barn conversions. Their portfolio also
extends beyond heritage projects to include new build
projects and educational and modern refurbishments.
www.bakersofdanbury.co.uk
Securing Funding and Support
The journey to secure funding was an intensive one,
involving collaboration with architectural, structural, and
mechanical professionals. The team developed comprehensive architectural and conservation plans, drew up
detailed budgets, and crafted an extensive Activity Plan
designed to engage the local community. These
documents formed the backbone of their submission,
showcasing the project’s ambition and the benefits it
would bring to Stebbing and beyond.
Their efforts bore fruit in December 2023, when The Way
Forward project was awarded a monumental £1.57
million by the Heritage Fund. This milestone was
celebrated as a transformative moment for the church
and the village. By June 2024, the project was fully
funded, thanks to additional grants from esteemed organisations such as the Friends of Essex Churches Trust, the
Beatrice Laing Family Trust, and the Garfield Weston
Foundation, along with generous contributions from the
church congregation and local residents.
Activity Plan. Meanwhile, Bakers of Danbury, as specialists in heritage building restoration, were awarded the
contract for the capital works. Church members rallied
together to prepare the site, boxing up everything from
kitchen utensils to wall paintings for storage. The pews, a
familiar but restrictive feature of the church, were
loosened and sold to new homes.
In September 2024, the transformation began in earnest.
Cliveden Conservation, experts in historic building
preservation, conducted detailed investigations that revealed additional wall paintings alongside the known
16th-century artwork. These discoveries added another
layer of historical richness to the project and informed the
conservation strategies to be used moving forward.
Scope of Renovation and Activity Plans
The scope of The Way Forward project is vast,
encompassing ten major areas of repair, renovation, and
community activity:
• Installation of underfloor heating and wall radiators:
Essential to combat dampness and ensure warmth for
visitors and congregants.
Bakers of Danbury Commence Restoration Work
On September 7, 2024, Bakers of Danbury officially began
the renovation work. The initial stages involved removing
outdated radiators, old lighting, and carefully protecting
immovable elements such as the pillars, organ, and altar
rail. The floor was lifted, with the bricks carefully stored
for reuse. The historical ledger stones were recorded, gently lifted and removed from the building until a later stage.
• Installation of glass doors in the porch: offering a
welcoming view into the church from the outside.
• Removal of pews: allowing flexible seating arrangements to accommodate a variety of services and events.
• Bespoke displays and storage: designed to keep the
interior organised and aesthetically pleasing.
• New servery and renovated kitchen: enabling refreshments to be served in a café-style setting.
• Updated lighting and audiovisual systems: enhancing
the interior’s ambiance and functionality.
• Redecoration of walls: giving the church’s interior a
much-needed facelift.
• Preservation of heritage assets: ensuring the church’s
historical elements are protected for future generations.
• Interpretive displays: explaining the church’s rich
history and heritage to visitors.
• A comprehensive activity programme: designed to
engage the entire community in the life of the church.
Excavations in the nave and chancel unearthed fascinating finds, including a bricked-over tomb, fragments of medieval stained glass, and remnants of ancient plumbing
and heating. The Colchester Archaeological Trust meticulously documented these discoveries, offering a rare
glimpse into the church’s hidden history. Community
members were invited to a “Take A Look” tour, hosted by
the Bakers team and archaeologists, which proved to be
a resounding success.
The next phase of the project saw the floor leveled with
Grade 1 aggregate, followed by layers of recycled foamed
glass (Glapor) for insulation, a geotextile layer, and
pipework for the new heating system. The first layer of
limecrete was poured, marking significant progress in the
church’s restoration. For the project team and the community, witnessing these developments after more than a
decade of planning has been profoundly gratifying.
Implementing the Activity Plan
By late 2024, the project entered a new phase as the
search began for paid team members to implement the
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