Spire Update

11th November 2014
Work on the spire and tower is now formally completed almost a year to the day since the Fabric Appeal to the congregation was launched. 

The project ran extremely smoothly with work being completed on budget and within the planned time-scales. Grateful thanks go to our architect, stonemasons and quantity surveyors:

Andrew Kepczyk - Lloyd Evans Prichard
John Russell - Mather and Ellis
Andrew Bradley - John Austin and Ptnrs

Special thanks go to site foreman Chris Baines and official site "guard dog" Ted!

5th September 2014

Work on the top part of the spire is now complete and contractors will shortly begin to remove the top levels of scaffolding while they continue to work on pointing the lower part of the tower.

1. The finial has been gilded and is now back in place on top of the repaired spire.

2. The new cross tree and central reinforcing rod has been fabricated from stainless steel.

3. One of our Churchwardens overcame her fears to climb to the top of the scaffolding to inspect the works.

4. New stonework has been expertly cut, shaped and inserted to replace weathered and cracked stonework.

5. Some lesser damaged and weathered stonework has been repaired with smaller indents.

6. This feature window near the top of the spire has been substantially rebuilt with new stonework and wire mesh grilles.

7. Another dummy window partially rebuilt.

8. Another small indent repair. These "plugs" of stone are 100mm deep.

9. Inspecting the pointing work.

9th July 2014
Work on the structural repairs to the church spire and tower is now well underway. The following series of photographs were taken on Wednesday 9th July.

1. The stonework from the top of the spire has been removed and brought down to ground level.

2. The top of the spire after removal of the top courses of stonework.

3. The base of the corroded cross tree at the top of the spire

4. The top of the corroded cross tree and the reason why the top courses of stone were being pushed outwards.

5. Our Treasurer inspects the top of the spire.

6. The stonework features near the top of the spire will need to be replaced with new stone.

7. Erosion of stonework on the tower is clearly evident which will need replacing and re-pointing.

8. A small test area of stonework on the lower section of the tower that has already been re-pointed.

9. The view towards Southport town centre from the top of the scaffolding. 

10. The view towards Hillside from the top of the scaffolding.

11. One of our Churchwardens "enjoying" the views!

12. The view towards the beach and pier from the top of the scaffolding.