Looking after St Giles’ Church into the 22nd Century

From my perspective as Churchwarden, the year 2020 brought two once-in-a-lifetime events; 1. Global Pandemic, 2. Replacing the church roof. I’m pleased to be able to say that one of these events has ended - all sixteen roof slopes of St Giles’ Church have been re-laid in traditional Horsham stone! We entered a fixed price contract in March 2020, and it included a variety of miscellaneous stonework and decorative elements from the  architect’s 2018 quinquennial inspection alongside the major roof repair.  Our contractors (AE Hughes) provided excellent craftsmanship during this project as did our architects, Carden & Godfrey, who managed the project. I’m grateful to Peter Levinsohn for assisting as well as former churchwardens who were consulted on previous repairs to St Giles’. It has been a privilege to learn the history of this building and contribute to its position as a church for Ashtead into the future. 

Here is a list of items we’ve worked on – see which ones you can spot when Covid-19 restrictions end and we return to large gatherings:

· Relaying Horsham stone slabs with Spanish slate liners and lime mortar

· New ridge tiles

· De-rusted and reconditioned weathervane and post replaced

· Repainting and refixing all rainwater gutters and downpipes

· Relaying the Yorkshire stone floor at the entry of St Giles’ church on a slope to meet the interior   level

· Stained glass windows repaired, ironwork repainted, and cleaning of windows inside and out

· Removal of most wire grills over windows

· Replacement of wire grill with polycarbonate protection on the main East Chancel window

· Replacement of several blocks of Reigate stone to buttresses

· Defrassing and shelter coating of remaining stones to tower

· Re-decoration of tower entry walls

· Re-painting all external doors

· Replacement of missing ironmongery to main oak door and south porch door

Drainage gulley’s re-laid or repointed around base of walls