St. Annes Church – quinquennial repairs

Heritage & restoration

St. Annes Church - quinquennial repairs

Lyons Stonework was awarded the JCT Minor Works Contract from a shortlist chosen by the Church’s architect, Equilibrium. As the main contractor, Lyons enlisted specialist Pendle Stained Glass, a proven team from a previous project at St James’ Church in Brindle with Equilibrium.

 

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Pendle Stained Glass began by removing all stained glass lights for restoration and cleaning. They replaced the corroded iron saddlebars with new ones to prevent further damage to the surrounding stone. As Lyons removed the damaged tracery, additional stonework issues were discovered, including a deteriorated hood mould and a cracked cross finial. The masons replaced the hood mould and repaired the cross before refixing it.

During the removal of the tracery and mullions, structural failings in the voussoirs of the window arch were uncovered. Instead of a single arch, there were two separate arches, creating instability. Lyons masons installed stainless steel anchors to tie the arches together and stabilize the structure.

After securing the arches, the team removed the bar tracery and mullions. New stone pieces were templated and crafted in Lyons’ workshop to replace the old elements. Pendle Stained Glass refixed the restored glass to complete the project. Despite delays due to additional work and bad weather, the church was ready in time for a wedding in February.

Architect Vic Fletcher praised the collaboration between Equilibrium, Pendle, and Lyons, highlighting the team’s blend of skills and expertise. St Anne’s PCC members were delighted with the restored window, which provided a more holistic approach to preserving the building’s glory for future generations.