The St. Agnes Church before work commenced. Photo Courtesy of John Peacock / St. Agnes Boating.
The Church on the Islands have reached a significant milestone in their project to restore and repair many of the Island buildings. The first stage has been completed in the form of a new tower for St. Agnes church.
Workmen have been in during the summer months to restore the leaky and unsafe flat roof on the church. They have restored the tower in the form of a pyramid roof, recreating the design that the church had in the early part of the 20th century. This symbolises celebrating the past as much as looking forward to a new era in the Islands religious state.
Rector Julian Ould told Scilly news that this project is part of a restoration programme spanning the five inhabited islands which will cost ?400,000. The Islands churches started collecting for this project three yeas ago when the Bishop of Truro came over to voice his support. The lottery heritage council has also financially supported the projects.
In a special ceremony of thanksgiving and re-dedication, Rector Julian will be joined by the Bishop of Truro to mark the event on Thursday the 27th of September. Rector Julian hopes that the small St. Agnes church will be packed to its capacity for the event. It is hoped the ceremony will be attended by councillors, local business leaders, local people and both BBC and ITV local TV news crews.
Rector Julian told Scilly News that it would be “Wonderful restoring the Church to its former glory” He also saw it as an “A landmark, important to the Island’s past”. To regular visitors to Scilly, the new addition to the St. Agnes Church can be noticed from the deck of the Scillonian as she passes between Gugh and The Garrison.
It is hoped that the Bishop will be able to attend a visit to Bryher while he is over, in order to view the Church there before restoration commences next year.