Spooner Row

The tiny church of Holy Trinity in Spooner Row near Wymondham has just completed a major repair job to the roof.  The work involved repairing the slates, flashings and parapet copings on the roof and clearing and redecorating the rainwater goods.

The problems came to light during a recent ‘quinquennial’ inspection; this is a five year inspection undertaken by an experienced architect.

During the repair work, problems were found with the cross on the top of the east gable.  Water had corroded the metal fastenings.  This in turn had split the stone.  New sections were made by local stonemasons, and then the cross was reassembled.

Spooner Row

The work cost around £27,000, a large sum for such a small church.  However, the church was able to go ahead after receiving a grant from the Listed Places of Worship Roof Repair Fund.  This has been set up for urgent repairs to public places of worship across the UK that are formally designated as listed buildings. Peter Barnes Builders of Diss carried out the work.

Harry Gratton, the church’s treasurer, is delighted with the results: “Roof leaks can lead to all sorts of problems, so we are delighted that we were able to secure the funds so quickly”, he said. “And the builders have done a super job. The roof should be good for a long time now.”

Spooner-Row-with-scaffolding

Holy Trinity Church, built in 1842, serves a rural community and is well loved and used. It is a daughter church (i.e. serving the same parish) to Wymondham Abbey. Two choirs practice in the church.  The Norwich Music Group rehearses under their musical director Philip Aldred. A smaller choir, Dolce, provides fundraising activities in the church. Both choirs assist other churches’ fundraising in Norfolk by giving concerts. The village school uses the church for various services.

www.wymondhamabbey.org.uk/spooner-row