In April 2017 (see Vidimus 109), we raised awareness of an urgent appeal to raise more than £25,000 needed to conserve the beautiful and nationally significant fourteenth-century window glass at the church of St Thomas of Canterbury at Birtsmorton (Worcs.).
Fig. 1: The Baptism of St Christopher, Birtsmorton church.
Fig. 2: Gordon McNeil Rushforth 1937.
Fig. 3: SII © Adam Schuch-Des Forges.
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We are delighted to report now of the success of that appeal, and of plans being put in place for its cleaning, repairing and protection to conserve it for future generations. Funds for work on the glass were raised through donations and grants, from parishoners, charities and trusts including the LG Harris Trust, the Church Buildings Council, the Allchurches Trust, the Worshipful Company of Glaziers and the William and Jane Morris Fund of the Society of Antiquaries of London. The PCC of Birstmorton and Hollybush contributed half of the £27,000 bill.
Fig. 4: Kneeling donor figure, Birtsmorton church.
A heritage open day is planned for Sunday, 16th September when conservators from Holy Well Glass, commissioned with the project, will be at the church to talk about their work and the conservation process. More details of this will be published in Vidimus in due course.