Beard selected for specialist renovation of Oxford’s University Church

A specialist team from Beard Oxford has started work on the restoration of ‘one of the most beautiful’ spires in England, according to church historians, at Oxford’s University Church of St Mary the Virgin in a Heritage Lottery Funded renovation and improvements programme worth some £2.8 million.

An enormous scaffolding shell will protect the 13th Spire and provide access for cleaning and renovating the stonework, including the triple-gabled outer pinnacles, inner pinnacles, gargoyles and statues.  The team will also be inserting a lifting beam so that the bell can be lowered and removed for renovation by bell specialists, Whites.

Other works will include re-gilding the clock face and the top of the spire, while internally the team will be working on the conservation of the church roof, walls and windows, which includes some 15th century stained glass, as well as upgrades to lighting and heating to improve facilities for worshippers and visitors.

The Church’s Project Manager Nigel Aplin says: “Beard demonstrated a sensitive understanding of the Church’s needs during their successful completion of the earlier Narthex office improvement project. This, together with their track record with many of the historic buildings in Oxford makes them an ideal choice for renovating this beautiful church.”

Constructing a special casing to protect the organ during the year long project will be required, and throughout the project Beard expert, Steve Colmer, will be working with the Church and their advisors to optimise the phasing of all the works and to ensure the tower and café are reopened as early as possible.