St Andrew’s has, since the 1880s, been a well-known landmark in both Montpellier and Cheltenham’s wider townscape. The church, a Grade II listed building, currently requires extensive and complex restoration and conservation work on its spire, which is currently ‘under wraps’ in scaffolding.

The project is needed to address distortion and damage caused by rusting of Victorian ironwork, which could ultimately result in, at worst, collapse of the spire. The project involves de-constructing and rebuilding the upper part of the spire; as St Andrew’s is eco-church, as many as possible of the original stones – from Leckhampton Quarry, which closed about a century ago, will be conserved and reused.

Project costs are likely to approach £500,000 (inc. VAT). Of this, St Andrew’s is underwriting approximately one-third from reserves; a similar amount is being sought from church-related and other grant-giving bodies. The congregation’s efforts have already raised around half of the remaining balance and we are appealing to those who attend events at, or otherwise know, use and value the church to help us reach our target over the coming months. Ways in which you can help include:

• Donating at St Andrew’s, using the machine in the lobby
• Attending fundraising concerts (advertised on the website, church, etc.)
• Contributing to our ‘Adopt-a-stone’ appeal or sponsoring specific elements of the conservation work (e.g. the spire cross).

For further information, including how to help or donate, you can e-mail:

standrews.spire@urcnorthcotswolds.org.uk

Photos Copyright: St Andrew’s URC, A Strathie, J Kemp, S Jeans, A Jeans, Jonathan Jarvis, Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust