News
Two new leaflets have been produced offering guided walks in and around Shefford.
These have been made possible by the generous support of the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The first leaflet is entitled "A guided walk around the ecclesiastical buildings of Shefford".
Shefford is blessed with many listed and beautiful buildings. This walk focuses on the buildings with ecclesiastical connections.
At a leisurely pace it will take about 30 minutes to complete, and is flat and accessible.
Click here to view an on-line version of this walk, then follow it on your phone or tablet.
The second leaflet is entitled "A guided walk around the Rivers, Canal, and Millennium Green of Shefford".
Shefford has three rivers (the Hiz, Hit and Ivel), a former Canal and many 'green' spaces. This walk will take about 45 minutes, but as it includes some steps and unfinished footpaths, sturdy footwear is advised, especially in damp or wet weather.
Click here to view an on-line version of this walk, then follow it on your phone or tablet.
Copies of both leaflets are available free of charge in the church (you'll find them on the table in front of you as you enter).
We would like to acknowledge the help and assistance given in the production of both of these leaflets from John Burgess MA, Tony Dawson, The Shefford History Group, and Karen Brammer (photography).
Source: Patricia Goulding
Published: 3rd November 2019
As part of our 2018/19 restoration project, we have produced a Guide Book and a Guide Leaflet, both of which are available free of charge to visitors to our beautifully restored Church.
However, we know that there are many people who are emotionally or historically connected with St Michael's that cannot call in to collect their copy, so we've included links below to allow them to share what we've achieved (just click on the images to download your copy):
Published: 2nd November 2019
Source: Patricia Goulding
Our 2018/19 restoration project had a major funding body - the Heritage Lottery Fund.
One of the things they required of us was that we undertook a number of heritage-based projects.
So, as part of that, a 'Restoration Video' has been produced by a local photographer and video artist, Karren Brammer, capturing some key people and moments in our journey.
Published
Source: Patricia Goulding (Churchwarden)
No.
Nothing to do with the clocks going back (that's October!).
This is about how our restored clock mechanism was lifted back up into our (newly restored) tower.
The clock mechanism is the actual clock - the restored face that we've all seen proudly displaying 12 O'Clock for some time now, is just the 'display device'.
If you click on the link below, you can see how the clockmakers got the clock back where it belongs.
All of this work is being funded by the Robert Lucas Trust, for which we are immensley grateful. Shefford's very own Trust aims 'To assist the needy and organisations benefiting the public in the parish of Shefford, which also includes educational grants for university students'
Published: 5th August 2019
Source: Stephen Lines
We have had many enquiries about when our beautifully restored clock face is actually going to start telling the time again.
The clock mechanism has been fully restored, and we've been looking after it for some time now.
But the clock needs a bell to strike, and although the bell itself has been restored, a decision to comission a bespoke medieval-style bell frame to hang it in (rather than the ugly, awkward and not very safe RSJ that the bell had previously been strapped to), has caused a short delay.
Bell foundries (who also have skilled craftspeople capable of building bespoke wooden medieval-style bell frames) are few and far between in the UK. The one that we are using is extremely busy.
So we weren't holding our breath.
Then, out of the blue, and ahead of schedule we were sent the photographs below, showing that they are making amazing progress (thanks guys!):
- Restored bell with the wooden part of the new headstock in place
- New bell frame under construction
- Bell frame assembled with protective finish applied (notice that it is held together with threaded steel rods, allowing it to be partially dismantled so the parts will fit through our small 'loft hatch' into the bell chamber
All of this work is being funded by the Robert Lucas Trust, for which we are immensley grateful. Shefford's very own Trust aims 'To assist the needy and organisations benefiting the public in the parish of Shefford, which also includes educational grants for university students'
So, the answers to the big questions:
- When will the clock start telling the time? - the best information that we have so far is 'late summer' (2019)
- When will the bell start chiming again? - same as above, BUT the bell will be striking, NOT chiming (chiming is the 'pretty bit' ahead of the strike that requires a number of bells to enable a tune to be played). Only one bell, so we'll have to strike. For now...
Photographs and Information: Patricia Goulding
Editorial: Stephen Lines
Date: 1st July 2019
With the scaffolding down and the external part of our restoration project complete, focus has now switched to the interior improvements.
New heating and lighting has already been installed and we are pleased to announce that the re-modelling of the entrance lobby was completed in May 2019, by the fitting of new custom built glass doors.
The new lobby makes the church far more accessible and welcoming, with several positive comments already.
As you can see from the photograph, the new lobby allows the external doors to be fully open, signalling a welcome to passers by, whilst controlling draughts and noise in the building.
Of course, none of this would have been possible without the generous support of the Heritage Lottery Fund, All Churches Trust, the Beds & Herts Historic Churches Trust, the Francis Coales Charitable Foundation, and the Steel Charitable Trust.
Photograph/Editorial: Stephen Lines
Date: May 2019
Page 7 of 12