Lydiard Millicent church celebrates as 16th century roof gets new lease of life

All Saints celebrates as roof restoration is completed

After four months of skilled restoration and ten months of fundraising, All Saints Church in Lydiard Millicent has a new chancel roof. And All Saints congregation and representatives of organisations that funded the work lost no time to celebrate.

The church chose the day associated with Saint David for a special “topping out” service in the church yard. With the sun putting in a rare appearance, the thankful party were able to see the stonework sparkling in all its glory.

Revd Tudor Vaughan Roberts led church members and others from the local community in a service specially written by Revd Tricia Roberts. It began with an expression of thanks to builders Michael Rixon Ltd, the scaffolders, architect, and the village project team and fundraisers who had led the project. Trust organisations the Garfield Trust, Wiltshire Historic Churches, All Churches Trust and Crapper and Son (Community First), who helped fund the work were also thanked.

Together, the party gave thanks to God for the life and worship of the church over more than nine centuries. They then dedicated the building again as a centre of worship, witness and welcome for the Parish of North West Swindon and Lydiard Millicent.

All Saints’ vicar, Mr Roberts, said he had been “amazed by the courage and skill of the builders. When the scaffolding came down and covers came off the windows and light flooded back into the church, it was like getting a new church building”.

Some 5 tonnes of handcut reclaimed Cotswold slates went into the restored roof and a third of the supporting timbers had to be cut away and replaced with new wood. Approximately 1,500 of the slates were new - around 50 per cent of the total – and the others were restored and recycled from before. The current church at Lydiard Millicent dates from the 14^th century, although the chancel was constructed in 1871.