St Mary & All Saints
Dunsfold, Surrey
Author, artist and founder of the Arts and Crafts movement William Morris called this'the most beautiful country church in all England'.
The present church dates to 1180 when construction of the nave and chancel started. It has been added to in every century since but the Early English lancet windows and arches are particularly noteworthy. Extensive works of restoration and enlargement took place in 1869 -70 under the direction of Henry Woodyer. There are several tombs and monuments of note including one commemorating the life of William Henry Bragg who received the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1915. Chiddingfold was a centre for the medieval glass making industry and fragments of glass from this period are displayed in a lancet window in the south aisle.
Works are for roof repairs to keep the building watertight and protect its important interior.
Top tips from feedback:
- Communicate widely with the people living in the vicinity of the project and liaise with them and the builders. Our contractors were happy to send representatives to meetings and to conduct tours. We had meetings, regular newsletters and a personal contact for people likely to be affected.
- Give everyone the chance 'to be part of history' by paying £1 to write messages and memories on a roof tile. This didn't raise a significant amount of money, but did generate considerable interest and links with the school.
- Keep giving updates so that villagers know how the project is progressing.