Restoration work at St Ethelbert’s Church in Falkenham, Suffolk, is set to begin after a £70,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund was awarded to support urgent repairs to the church’s 15th-century tower.
Parts of the tower have started to crumble, and the condition has raised safety concerns in recent months. In September 2024, worries about falling masonry led to a practical site safety change for congregants, with entry switching from the west door to the south porch.
The Rev. Nicholas Williams, rector of the Orwell and Deben Benefice, said the funding is what makes it possible to move from planning to action. He said individual donations mattered, but the grant provided the support needed to start the repair work, rather than delaying the project further.
For crews that take on historic masonry repair, the situation at St Ethelbert’s is a familiar reminder that deterioration is not always gradual or harmless. When masonry begins shedding from a tower, walls, or parapets, access control becomes part of the jobsite plan. Keeping people out of potential fall zones can be just as important as the repair itself until permanent work is complete.
The Grade II listed church has served as a place of worship and community life since the late 14th century. Leaders say the goal of the repairs is straightforward, to keep the building safe, accessible, and in active use for generations to come. The church does not receive government funding and has relied on public donations and grant support to reach this stage.
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