Friends of St Mary’s Church, Cleobury Mortimer is a Registered Charity Number 1122557

1.Who we are

2.Coming events

3.A brief history of St. Mary’s Church

4.Executive committee

5.Gifts

1. Who we are

The Friends of Saint Mary’s Church, Cleobury Mortimer is a non-denominational charity run by volunteers whose sole objective is to help maintain, repair, restore and preserve the church building as a monument for the benefit of the community and its future generations.

2. Important Coming Events

Snowdrop Walks in the grounds of Mawley Hall Cleobury Mortimer.

Sunday 12th February 11am to 4pm.

The Friends of Saint Mary’s have organised two snowdrop walks in the grounds of Mawley Hall on Sunday 12th February. The grounds will be open on Sunday 12th February from 11am to 4pm, by kind permission of Mr and Mrs Rupert Galliers-Pratt, for visitors to enjoy a walk and see the snowdrops. The last walk should start at 3pm to allow sufficient time to complete the longer walk.

The walks will be signposted and a map will be provided to help you. There are two suggested walks, one of about 1½ miles (allow 1hour) and the other about 2½ miles (allow 1½ hours). The longer walk is a circular tour taking you along part of the River Rea, not normally open to the public. Refreshments will be on sale during the day. You are advised to wear stout shoes or wellingtons as the paths may be muddy. Admission is £1 per person and includes a map of the walks.

The entrance to Mawley Hall (DY14 8PN) is off the A4117 Cleobury Mortimer to Kidderminster road about 1½ miles from Cleobury Mortimer on the right hand side. Coming from the Kidderminster direction the entrance is on the left hand side about ½ mile after the Mawley Oak Garage.

Cost £1 per person. Full details of routes will be provided on arrival. Light refreshments will be available.

Paint a Pot at the Market Hall – Saturday, 17th March.

Details to be supplied closer to the date.

Mawley Hall and Gardens (joint event with Shropshire Historic Churches Trust) – Sunday, 20th May, Noon to 5.00 p.m. Please note: This event is now CANCELLED.

Enjoy one of Cleobury Country’s most attractive gardens plus explore the Hall’s outstanding architecture and history.

Christmas Fair (in conjunction with St. Mary’s Parochial Church Council and the Chamber of Trade) – 1.00 p.m. Saturday, 1st December.

The official start to Christmas throughout the world!

Whilst the above have been arranged in good faith, it is possible that some events may have to be changed. Full details will be advertised closer to the relevant dates.

3. A brief history of St. Mary’s Church.

Probably this church is best known for its crooked spire which can be dated back to the 13th Century. The twist and lean was caused by the spire being placed on the tower without any tying or flashing. As a result the soft stone crumbled in the wet and the timbers rotted. The twist was partly due to the timbers drying out.

The tower was built in the 12th Century. The nave and south aisle are 13th Century and the North aisle is 14th Century. The side chapel (St Nicholas’s Chapel) was built by the notorious Roger Mortimer, possibly as ‘fire insurance’. He was the partner of Edward II’s wife, and was hanged in 1330. The altar table here is most interesting. In 1553 it was ordered that all stone altars should be destroyed and ‘a decent wooden table’ installed. The legs of this table are probably made from the dismantled rood screen. In the time of Queen Mary five consecration crosses were cut into the top, but in Cromwellian times these were filled in.

In the chancel there is a hagioscope, commonly called a ‘leper’s squint’. The wall was originally an outside wall; the chapel is a later addition. The squint was so that people in the churchyard could see the sacred elements being blessed at the altar, and thus they had officially attended Mass and avoided the fine for absenteeism. Near the squint there is a plaque showing the Last Supper. This was made in the Abraham Darby works in Coalbrookdale, and cost thirty shillings.

The East Window was give by the Vicar to celebrate the end of the Nineteenth Century restoration. It commemorates the fact that William Langland, the author of Piers Plowman, was born near Cleobury, and depicts episodes from the poem. ( A full explanation can be found on one of the ‘paddle guides’ at the back of the church).

In 1793 Thomas Telford, the County surveyor, was building the ‘new bridge’ at the east of the town, and he was called in to suggest a remedy for the walls of the church leaning outwards. He had brick buttresses built. These were changed to stone during the Gilbert Scott restoration in the 1870s.

This church is a national treasure, so we must make every effort to secure its preservation. Any help you can give would be appreciated

Work recently completed:

1987 Repairs to east window

1993 Repairs to church spire.

The C14 spire was found to be just resting on the tower. Wet had got in which caused the list and twist. The spire was tied in, and the roof reshingled. At a cost of ₤250,000. A Betjeman award was granted for this work.

2005 Repairs to Nave roof, North aisle arch and masonry stabilisation

Storm damage in 2004 called for immediate repair. The whole of the Nave roof had to be retiled and rotting timbers replaced. The arch in the North aisle was sagging and needed to be reinforced by inserting stainless steel rods. A very large part of the cost was due to the hire of scaffolding.. The total cost was just under £200,000

2006 Repairs to South Porch and suspended timber floors in the Nave and North Chapel

The porch roof was stripped, rotting timbers replaced and retiled , together with the restoration of the stonework. The new floors had improved under floor ventilation,, improved drainage, together with a new storm water drainage system.

The cost of this work was ₤185,000

The church clock also had to be repaired at a cost of £3000

As you can see this is an ongoing process and considerable help is needed to preserve this ancient church as a national monument and as a place of worship.

By joining The Friends of Saint Mary’s Cleobury Mortimer, your subscription will help us to maintain, repair, restore and preserve the church building and its fabric for the benefit of the community and future generations.

We know that our Church has undergone major repairs since its construction in the 13th. and 14th. Centuries. But, like painting the Forth Bridge, it seems the task will never be completed.

We have learned from English Heritage architects that keeping this important monument in prime condition will continue to be a challenge.

Following successful completion of restoration work to the spire in 1993 Saint Mary’s Church achieved The John Betjeman Award in recognition of outstanding repairs to a church remaining in use.

I/We wish to join the ‘Friends of Saint Mary’s Church Cleobury Mortimer’ Title …………………………………………………………………………… Name(s) ……………………………………………………………………….. Address ……………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………Post Code ………….……….. Telephone No. ………………………………….E-Mail …………………….. ANNUAL RATE: *Annual Member £10.00 Life Member £100.00 Life Member (Over 60) £60.00 *Corporate Member £50.00

*Please note: these are minimum sums; if you are able to, please give more. I/We wish to become a ……………………. member and enclose a cheque for the sum of £ …………… If you wish to pay by Standing Order please complete a Standing Order Form I/We wish the donation to be treated as Gift Aid. I/We understand that I/We must pay an amount of Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax at least equal to the tax that the Friends of Saint Mary’s Church reclaim on my donations in the tax year. Signature ……………………………………………….Date ……………….. Please return this form to The Membership Secretary Friends of St Mary’s Mrs Diane Waddington Bransley Lane Cleobury Mortimer KIDDERMINSTER Worcs DY14 8AY

4. Friends of St. Mary’s executive committee

Alec Osbaldiston - Chairman

Steve Todd – Vice Chairman

Shaunah Murrell – Treasurer

Bill Duley – Recording Secretary

Diane Waddington – Membership Secretary

Jayne Brown – Church warden

Ryland Robertshaw – Church warden

Angela Drennan - Activities Secretary

Heather Kippin - co-opted member

The committee meets every 6-8 weeks and focuses on the organisation of fund raising activities. New members are always welcome.

5. Friends of St. Mary’s Gifts

All monies from the sale of these gifts will go towards the restoration of St. Mary the Virgin church.

Available from Bill and Wendy Duley at 270562 or whdpathways at btopenworld.com

Badge £2

Pen £1

Bookmark £2

Key tag £2

Church print £3

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