Grade II listed church in Hadlow Down celebrates completion of vital repairs
The 19th-century St Mark’s church in Hadlow Down has just completed an extensive programme of external repairs after receiving a £4,000 grant from the Sussex Historic Churches Trust in April.
The Grade II listed building, which was built in 1835–36, is an important historic and community landmark serving the village of Hadlow Down and the surrounding rural area.
The 2023 Quinquennial Inspection identified a number of concerning issues including deteriorating external stonework - small fragments were seen falling from the fabric, creating a potential hazard close to paths used by visitors and members of the congregation.
The principal elements of the work included repairs to a damaged kneeler-stone on the north side of the nave; repairs and repointing to stonework on the south-east corner of the building and repairs to failing weathering stones, jamb-stones and stone roof-slabs on the south porch.
The Quinquennial also highlighted additional areas needing maintenance so, while scaffolding was up for the urgent stone repairs, the church also undertook preventative maintenance to the guttering.
The Rev’d Peter Molloy said: “We are most grateful for the support we received from the Sussex Historic Churches Trust. The application process was straightforward, and your approach to our project was exceptionally generous. Your assistance has made an important contribution to the maintenance of our beautiful church, and we greatly appreciate your support.”
St Mark’s £4,000 grant was one of six given out by the Trust in April this year. The others were St Mary, Binsted (£24,000); Chichester Cathedral (£2,000), St Catherine of Siena, Cocking (£5,000), St Augustine, Scaynes Hill (£3,000) and Holy Innocents, Southwater (£2,000). Further grants were awarded in September.
Grants from the Trust play an invaluable role, countywide, in helping churches carry out essential care and conservation of their historic buildings; the grants are often the ‘make or break’ factor in enabling church repairs to go ahead.
Next year, the Trustees will be meeting on April 9 and September 17. The application deadline is two weeks before each meeting. Urgent applications will be considered by the Trustees between meetings.
