Kessingland Church in local News. EASTER DAILY RESS April 3 2024

Joy as St Edmund's Church in Kessingland Lowestoft reopens

A major £314,000 scheme to restore and enhance a historic church has been completed.

A special thanksgiving service was held on Easter Sunday as St Edmund's Church in Kessingland, near Lowestoft reopened after being temporarily closed for 13 months.

St Edmund's Church in Kessingland. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

Having been at the heart of one community for more than 500 years, Kessingland's parish church - a landmark for seafarers since the mid-15th century - held an official celebratory service following completion of repairs to its thatched roof.

Presided by the Bishop of Thetford, the Rt Rev Ian Bishop, the new thatched roof and the nave ceiling were blessed on Sunday.

Back in August 2018, an appeal was launched to “Raise the Roof” at the historic church with the community rallying around to raise funds for a new thatched roof and associated repairs at the Grade I listed building.

With the 17th century thatched roof "in a dilapidated state" additional water damage to the buttresses at the church saw it officially declared ‘at risk’ and in danger of closure.

St Edmund's Church in Kessingland. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

So, for more than five years a small project team of five has "stuck together through the highs and lows" to ensure completion of the project.

There was a major boost to the campaign in January 2022 as £168,000 was awarded from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Back in November 2022 the church was added to Historic England’s annual “At Risk” Register.

After "mammoth fundraising" and the support of villagers, a church spokesman added: "The project overall will have a final cost of around £314,000, considerably more than first was expected."

Work on the roof started in February last year as scaffolding was installed, with the church closed and services moving a short distance away to the Church Centre.

Rev Mandy Bishop said it felt "glorious" to return to the church. She said: “We are delighted to complete this project.

"It validates the huge local support and effort that has gone into securing the long term future of this vital building for our community. "St Edmund, Kessingland Parish Church seeks to serve its community from Cradle to Grave and besides providing services of worship, regularly stages community outreach events and supports local groups who use the Church Centre.

"Now, thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund, and all donors and fundraisers the project has restored St Edmund’s roof so that it can continue to serve its community through the 21st century."

Thanking the community for its support, Rev Mandy added: "Together we did it, it's truly together we did it."

'RAISE THE ROOF' CAMPAIGN TIMELINE – 2018 to 2024

Started in August 2018 with Rev Janet Wyer raising awareness of the predicament and state of the roof, with repairs required.

Tenders went out for contractors as fundraising began with numerous activities within the community, many generous donations and a 'Batch of Thatch' campaign.

With Rev Wyer retiring in Easter 2019, Rev Mandy Bishop took over as Rector in September 2019. Almost no fundraising was possible in 2019/2020 due to Covid.

In October 2021 an application was made to HLF, which was successful at the start of 2022.

Contractors - including a thatcher - sought alongside preparation work in 2022.

In January 2023 scaffolding was put up and external works began on drainage.

February 2023 saw the church close and Sunday services transferred to Church Centre.

A time capsule service was held in August 2023, as works continued at St Edmund's Church.

Originally estimated to be completed September 2023, the works overrun due to state of roof when the old thatch was removed.

Late January 2024 the building was signed off and handed over from the contractors.

Celebratory service held on Easter Sunday, March 31 as the Bishop of Thetford blesses the new roof.

Thatching started August 2023

Raise the Roof Update July 2023

Update on Kessingland Thatch June 2023

Psalm 127: A song of ascents. Of Solomon.

1 Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.

Dear friends

Many have asked for a progress report on Kessingland Church roof.

From the pictures you can see that the old thatch has been removed, also surrounding the building new drainage has been installed with new soakaways and existing drainage and soakaways have been repaired and all are now working effectively.

You will see the timbers / rafters in the attached pictures are also in need of some repair and treatment before the new thatch can be put on the roof. The new thatch is currently being stored nearby and when all repairs have been finished and architects and engineers reports are completed that rethatching will begin.

Whilst this seems to be taking a long time, we remind ourselves that Kessingland church has been in this community since 1436, so a year to restore it to its former glory is in real terms a small space of time.

Please be assured the ministry to Kessingland has not diminished whilst the church building is being restored, all Sunday services are now at our church centre (and the attendances are increasing) and Funerals, Baptisms and Wedding services may take place at either Gisleham or Rushmere churches.

Kessingland Churchyard remains accessible and interments may still be conducted there. We also remind ourselves that the CHURCH is, and are the people, and your church continues to serve you in pastoral care and all its outreach groups as usual. We are still here and working harder to reach out to you and support you.

THANKYOU each and every one of you for your supporters and understanding during this time and we look forward to a super time of celebration when we can return to our beautiful church building one more.

A special service and gathering to give thanks to all donors, sponsors, supports and God, for His blessings. The Psalm asserts that unless God builds, unless God watches, and unless God gives even our work to honour him will be in vain. No matter how much we create, how carefully we conserve, or how hard we work, it is futile and foolish to try to do so independently of God. TOGETHER WE ARE DOING T!

It is TOGETHER with God beside us we are fruitful

THANKYOU, God bless you all, Thankyou

School Broadcast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0qhEm3cfsY&t=3s

RAISE THE ROOF FUNDS AWARDED

Project to Restore & Enhance Historic Coastal Church Awarded National Lottery Heritage Fund Grant

A project to carry out essential urgent repairs on the Grade 1 listed St. Edmund's Church, Kessingland can now go ahead following the award of a crucial £168,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This follows an application made with the support of the local community, including Waveney M.P. Peter Aldous, Kessingland Parish Council, the village C of E Primary Academy and a diversity of village businesses and community voluntary groups.

The church has a fine flint flushwork tower, which has been a landmark for seafarers since it was built in the mid fifteenth century and has many mementoes of the fishing heritage of the village. However, the seventeenth century thatched roof is in a dilapidated state and with additional water damage to the buttresses the church was officially declared 'at risk' and in danger of closure. The project is expected to cost around £220,000 in total, with over £37,000 of this amount already having been raised by local residents and supporters. It includes the creation of a new heritage area in the church and new guides of the church and village, with the involvement of the C of E Primary Academy. This project will enhance the attractiveness of the church and village to visitors to this small holiday resort. In addition, the churchyard will be made more wildlife-friendly and extra church-centred social activities will be developed for the village community.

A Response from the Rector of Kessingland Benefice.

“We are delighted to receive this funding. It validates the huge local support and effort that has gone into securing the long-term future of this vital building for our community. St Edmund, Kessingland Parish Church seeks to serve its community from Cradle to Grave and has in the past two years seen substantial growth in numbers and people wanting to assist us serve our community. Besides providing services of worship, St Edmund’s Church regularly stages community outreach events and supports local groups who use the Church Centre.

Now, thanks to all National Lottery Players, and all donors and fundraisers the project will restore St Edmund’s roof so that it can continue to serve its community through the twenty first century. We give our heartfelt thanks to the National Lottery Players everywhere and our wonderful community who have made this possible

THANKYOU. TOGETHER WE DID IT!”

Notes to editors

About Kessingland St Edmunds Church, Church Road Kessingland.

Website: kessinglandbenefice.co.uk https://www.kessinglandbenefice.co.uk/

Youtube: The True Kessingland Benefice (673) The True Kessingland Benefice - YouTube

About The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Using money raised by the National Lottery, we Inspire, lead and resource the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future. www.heritagefund.org.uk.

Since The National Lottery began in 1994, National Lottery players have raised over £43 billion for projects and more than 635,000 grants have been awarded across the UK.

For any further information, please contact the “Raise The Roof” Team via Revd Mandy Bishop revdmandy@btinternet.com