Historic Shropshire church in running for national award

An ancient Shropshire church, home to the third oldest bell in the country and which was saved by its congregation, is in the running for a prestigious national award.

Outside the church are, from left, project manager John Burt, council conservation officer Ben Williscroft and structural engineer Ian Ceney

The Society for the Preservation of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) has told the trustees of Myndtown Church, which sits in the foothills of the Long Mynd, that, that the 12th century upper level works - which include carpentry to the roof and bellcote and conservation work on the bells - is now up for a top accolade.

The work was undertaken as part of a Heritage Lottery Fund project and has now been shortlisted for the HLF annual John Betjeman Award.

Established in 1990 and named in honour of writer, conservation campaigner and SPAB Committee member Sir John Betjeman, the award celebrates excellence in the repair of places of worship of all denominations in England and Wales, including the Isle of Man.

Importantly, the award is always made to the building rather than to an individual, so this is a chance for a whole community to celebrate the quality of work completed in its building.

Certificate

The award takes the form of a certificate featuring an image of Inglesham Church in Wiltshire, a favourite church of Betjeman’s and the subject of an early SPAB campaign by the society’s founder, William Morris. This striking image was created for the SPAB by artist and friend of Betjeman, John Piper.

Matthew Slocombe, chairman of SPAB said: "Poet and broadcaster Sir John Betjeman was a much-loved committee member of the Society. Our annual award - named in his honour - celebrates his long association with Britain's oldest heritage charity and also his great love of churches.

"The prestigious award recognises excellent and thoughtful repair in a place of worship.

"This year we have a very impressive shortlist to consider, including the wonderful church of St John the Baptist, Myndtown, where sensitive work to the upper levels, including the bellcote with its astonishingly ancient bell dating to 1150, and thought to be the third oldest in the country, has already impressed the judges.Later this month our expert panel of five judges will travel to all seven shortlisted churches before making a final, difficult decision."

The Reverend Deborah Swann, priest in charge of the Onnycamlad Parishes, which include Myndtown, added: “I was thrilled to hear that our tiny, rural church has made the shortlist for this distinguished national award: it is a wonderful testament to our small local community’s efforts in raising our share of the funding for the Heritage Lottery Fund project and seeing it through to its successful conclusion.

"This simple, ancient church, in its magnificent setting at the foot of the Long Mynd, would have certainly have been of great appeal to Sir John Betjeman.”