An historic church is closer to being restored to its former glory after winning a £35,000 grant from English Heritage.
English Heritage has offered a £35,000 grant today, 12 January 2007, towards the substantial structural work needed on the historic St Botolph's Church near Sidcup.
The funding is a contribution to the £62,000 structural work project which will help restore St Botolph's Church near Sidcup.
The medieval building is Grade-II listed and a scheduled ancient monument.
St Botolph's Church was built during the 13th century. It was deconsecrated in 1557 by Cardinal Pole and for more than 400 years it was used as a barn and storehouse for farm equipment.
It now stands within Ruxley Manor Garden Centre.
However, even today it retains some of its original features, including a twin sedilia and small piscina mounted into the wall, both of which retain most of the original 13th century moulding.
The large sedilia was a resting place for the priest and his assistant to sit while the lengthy sung part of the medieval Mass service took place. The bowl recess of the small piscina held water to rinse the chalice rim and finger tips of the priest before and after Communion.
Archeological work in the 1960s revealed that the current church probably stands on the site of an even earlier timber building.
Ruxley (or Rokesley) is mentioned in the Doomsday Book and there may have been a Saxon church there for some time before the Conquest.
The owners of Ruxley Manor Garden Centre are now working with English Heritage to ensure the future of the building. The long-term aim is to renovate the church completely in order to use it for commercial purposes.
Timothy Jones of English Heritage said: "The structural work will help ensure St Botolph's Church remains in good repair so this important part of our heritage is available for future generations."
James Evans, Director at Ruxley Manor Garden Centre, said: “We believe that this is the first step towards converting St Botolph's into a commercial enterprise that will not only be an asset to the garden centre but will also maintain the future well being of a building steeped in history."
POSTED: 16/01/2007 10:30:03
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