Restoration success at ancient Teesdale church

EFFORTS to restore a dale church’s medieval stained glass windows have been successfully completed.
Wycliffe Church’s 13th and 14th century windows were on the road to disintegration after years of moisture and lichen had taken their toll.
But a combination of grants and tireless fundraising from volunteers resulted in a seven month restoration programme which was completed last Friday (June 2).
Church warden Keith Miller helped set up the restoration fund through an informal Friends of the Church group.
He paid tribute to the craftsmanship of conservation expert Jonathan Cooke and revealed there were more plans in the pipeline.
“There are a number of other things we would like to do,” said Mr Miller.
“It’s hoped we will be able to put a new kitchenette and loo in because there isn’t one at the moment.
“We have concerts here and it is sometimes difficult if we do not have a toilet facility.”
Mr Cooke has spent 40 years restoring stained glass from York Minster to St Denis, in Paris.
He took the panels of glass out of Wycliffe’s grade I listed church and restored them at his workshop in Ilkley before putting them back in.
Special isothermal glassing has been used to prevent “pitting” on the glass.
But Mr Cooke explained how some restoration work in the 1950s and 1960s had caused one or two headaches.
He said: “In those days, ideas of cleaning and conservation were very different to today.
One thing which is really a problem is moisture – there was quite a bit of damp and a bit of lichen.
“The glaziers we employed had used heavy lead work so the windows had started to collapse under their own weight.
“We have been able to take out the big heavy lead and put in a better size – more like what would have been available in the 14th century.”
There has been a church on the site at Wycliffe since the eighth or ninth century.
“It is likely to have begun as a wooden structure before the existing grade I-listed building was put up.
Inside are ancient artefacts, including parts of a cross with a Celtic interwoven pattern dating back to the ninth century and hogsback tomb which is probably from the tenth century.
Stones dating back to the Saxon era are also visible near the church entrance and Mr Miller is keen to highlight those in future.
He added: “We want to display them better with information for visitors.
“Some of the stones are Saxon so some of them have been here for more than a thousand years.”
A free celebration evening to mark the completion of the restoration will be held on Sunday, July 2.
Speeches will be made by Mr Cooke, Jeff Astley, from Durham University, as well as a performance by Barnard Castle acappella group Carillon.
Refreshments will also be served.
For more information, contact Mr Miller on 01833 627540 or email kshmiller32 @gmail.com