Service marks clean church

A service of celebration will be held at St Helen’s Church, Brant Broughton, today to mark the completion of a 20-year restoration programme.

The work involved cleaning the ceiling and walls of the 13th Century church, including a lot of decorative work, from the altar right back to the tower. Windows were also replaced.

Parishioners helped with the work under the guidance of a conservator, Mr Donald Smith.

Mr Smith, from the West Country, restored the Pugin ceiling at St Swithun’s Church, Leadenham, last year.

The Rector at St Helen’s, the Rev Dr Alan Megahey, said the cleaning work was a massive undertaking because of the size of the church.

He said they left small spots of uncleaned areas to show how dirty the interior of the church had been.

On Monday the chief executive of English Heritage, Dr Simon Thurley, visited St Helen’s and All Saints’ Church, Beckingham, which is in the same group of parishes.

The churches are being included in a film by English Heritage about historic buildings at risk.

Both are seen as examples of successful efforts to preserve and enhance the nation’s built heritage. The film will be sent to every religious building in England.