Busbridge Church Tower Project

Godalming Minster Brighton Road

Have you seen the scaffolding around Busbridge Church tower?

The scaffolding was put up to investigate the cause of the water damage inside the church.

Closer inspection of the tower and the roof has revealed extensive damage, and a lot of repair work is needed to secure the future of the tower and the church.

The cost of the repairs is estimated at £70k - significantly more than expected.

What’s required:

• Re-shingle parts of the tower

• Restore whole sections of the bell tower louvres damaged by squirrels and extreme weather

• Recap and seal the roof at the base of the tower

• Renew sections of roof Repair damp damage on the lower walls inside the church

• Add protection to prevent further degradation to the supporting iron pillars

  The work needed is urgent so Godalming Minster has proceeded with some initial work.

As a building at the heart of Busbridge,
serving all local residents and visitors, we welcome any support from those living locally who appreciate the church’s enduring presence.

Securing the future of Busbridge Church tower

The tower has been a visual landmark for the whole community for over 150 years. It has featured as a backdrop to countless wedding photographs, and thousands of christenings and funerals which have taken place in the church beneath it. Hundreds of people pass beneath it every day or drive past it on the Brighton Road.

Would you miss the view?

The church is recognised nationally for its heritage significance. It’s a 2* Listed Church because it contains Arts and Crafts works and designs by William Morris, Gilbert Scott, Burne-Jones, Edwin Lutyens, and Gertrude Jekyll who is buried in the churchyard. The tower sits atop all of this like a resting sentinel with its gilded weathervane.

Today it’s a large flexible space for schools work, Ukrainian events, a polling station, older people’s care, community film afternoons, talks, afternoon teas, as well as church services. The church is open daily from approx 9am-4pm. Guide booklets are available at the back of the church, and you are welcome to pop in anytime.

Inside the church, the vertical pillars of the tower appear to be oak beams. In fact the oak is cladding around iron pillars. The spire sits atop all of this like a resting sentinel with its gilded weathervane.

Ever heard of “shakes” or “sarks”?

The tower is a work of beauty and an early example of a new Victorian technique. Its exterior is made up of weighted hand-cleft cedar tiles (called shakes) which are nailed to a hidden board (called a sark). Restoring them is a work of art and testimony to previous generations of artisans. See the view from the top of the spire - the highest point in Busbridge!

The tower withstood bomb-shock wave damage in 1940. The split beam high up inside the church is still visible today.

The Peace Bell

The tower bell was restored in 1949 after the tower had been strengthened. The recast bell was named ‘The Peace Bell’. It is heard ringing at 5pm daily to remind all in Busbridge of the peace we cherish.

Listen out! ‘The Peace Bell’ The bell is often rung at 5pm to remind Busbridge of the peace we cherish, and those at war around the world. New volunteers are welcome to join this rota.

Let us know if you‘d like to have a go at 5pm one day e: office@godalmingminster.org.

Then squirrels nested... Recently squirrels encamped in the bell tower and began gnawing at the tiles. This created significant damage.

And the rain poured... Part of the church roof beneath the tower, ridge tiles and clay tiles near the tower have suffered significant weather damage in recent years. This damage has extended inside the church around the area of the Victorian iron oak-clad pillars.

Between 2009 and 2017 the church spent money on re-shingling the spire, re-gilding the weather vane, new lighting, installing a new oak floor and decorating the church interior.

To secure the integrity of this beautiful landmark, we aim to raise what we can to help with the repairs.

Meeting the cost

The Minster is responsible for the upkeep of four church buildings, each significant in their area. Three of them are listed, and centuries old. If we spend such significant funds on Brighton Road, the maintenance of the other church buildings is vulnerable. It will also limit our level of support for life-events and other community services across Godalming.

Therefore the PCC (board of trustees) is applying for grants, there is an appeal to members of the congregations, and a day of prayer on 10th June 2024. Minster member Ben Rogers is walking the Downs Link from Busbridge Church to Shoreham by Sea (c37 miles) barefoot on 19-20 June!

Can we claim on insurance? Unfortunately the damage is not covered by insurance.

Can’t the Church of England or the Government pay? Each church is its own responsibility. We don’t have access to significant external funds. We’ve already approached some potential donors, but if anyone knows of other potential grant-bodies, we’d be delighted to be connected with them.

What’s being done to prevent future issues? The issues faced now are once in 150 years issues. Measures will be installed to prevent rodent infestation and remove damp.

If reading this you feel moved to help secure the future of this beautiful landmark, please read on for ways to give.
Your name can be recorded in chalk inside the church tower!

Donate Online Please go to the Donate page on godalmingminster.org to donate online, or set up a BACS payment.

Send us a cheque Please make cheques payable to Godalming Minster, and send to the Treasurer, Minster Office, The Old Rectory, Old Rectory Gardens, Godalming, GU7 1XB

There’ll be a celebration at the end of the restoration, and we would be delighted to share this occasion with everyone in the Busbridge community when the time comes.