Malmesbury Abbey Appeal launched
The Malmesbury Abbey Restoration Scheme (MARS) Appeal was launched at the Abbey on July 7th at an event attended by nearly 200 people.
The Archdeacon of Malmesbury, Ven Alan Hawker, who is also president of the appeal, started the event by giving the background to the appeal, describing how the building had adorned the area for so many centuries as a centre of worship and also an important part of the community, but needed to be brought up to date.
The architects for the scheme are the London firm of Richard Griffiths, and the person in charge of the project is Mr Ptolemy Dean, well known to many from his appearance in the BBC Restoration Series. He described the plans, which include
- a 3-story structure with basement in the north west end of the abbey, replacing a small extension that was built in the 1920s. This will hold the bookshop, exhibition space, facilities for educational visits, the parish office, meeting rooms and ancillary services. There will be a lift and basic catering facilities.
- restoration of the space in the south west corner, currently used by the creche and the verger's store, into a light and airy chapel which can be used for smaller services. This area was originally intended as a chapel after it was rebuilt a century ago, and contains the Eilmer and Aldhelm windows, but the arches which were intended to be glazed are currently bricked. The scheme would include glazing of these arches.
- conversion of the area beyond the current west wall into a courtyard, with access directly into the nave through new doors beneath the west window.
The appeal was due to be officially launched at this point by Kate Adie. Unfortunately she had been caught in a major hold-up on the M4, and eventually arrived, full of apologies, after most people had left. Instead the event was adjourned after a prayer from the Vicar of Malmesbury, Rev Neill Archer, and a quarter peal was rung by the Abbey bellringers. Strawberries and cream was served, and the plans which had newly been posted were studied and admired.
Kate Adie, accompanied by scheme Chairman, Jim Toogood, studies the Abbey plans
To find out more about the appeal and how you can contribute, visit www.malmesburyabbeyappeal.org.uk. To read about the Abbey, visit www.malmesburyabbey.com.
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