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St John the Evangelist Shirley
Conservation Work
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The church had long stood defined by contrast, smooth worked stone set against dark, knapped flint, its walls shaped by hand and patience. Time had weathered these surfaces unevenly. Some stones softened, others loosened. The flint elevations remained resilient but asked for careful attention, while high above, the spire and roof bore the quiet marks of exposure.
The work that followed was not about change, but about steadiness.
Client
Pcc St John the Evangelist
Dates
August 2019
—
December 2019
Location
Uckfield, England
Grade listing
Grade II
Architects
Daniel Martin Conservation Surveyor
Reading the Walls in Place
Conservation began where the building stood, not with removal, but with in-situ repair and cleaning. Stone surrounds were carefully cleaned and conserved, their surfaces freed from accumulated grime while retaining the texture of age. The flint elevations were treated with the same respect, stabilised, repaired where necessary, and left legible as historic fabric rather than perfected surface.
Each intervention was restrained, designed to strengthen without interrupting the visual rhythm that defined the church’s elevations.
Attending to the Line of the Roof
Above, individual roof tiles had slipped or gone missing over time. These were selectively replaced, restoring continuity to the roof covering without wholesale disturbance. The approach was precise and localised, enough to secure the roofline, never enough to overwhelm it.
Cast iron rainwater goods, long exposed to weather, were repaired and redecorated. Once restored, they returned quietly to their task: carrying water away from the building, protecting walls and foundations alike.
Renewing the Spire’s Skin
At the highest point, the spire received renewed attention. Worn cedar shingles were removed and replaced, restoring a protective layer shaped as much by tradition as by necessity. The new shingles settled into place with familiarity, continuing a material language that had long belonged to the building.
When the works were complete, little seemed altered. Stone and flint read clearly, water moved correctly, and the spire stood secure. The church remained itself, its fabric conserved and its long relationship with weather and time carefully managed for the future.
