A church in Fulbrook is part of a conservation project to preserve stone monuments in churchyards.
St James the Great Fulbrook was chosen by the Diocese of Oxford to be included in a wider scheme taking place in Gloucestershire looking at table top monuments. There are five examples of these monuments in the churchyard at Fulbrook, which are Grade II listed. The project is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Church of England Cathedral and Church Buildings Team. Extensive surveys will now be carried out on the stones, some of which date back centuries.
Deborah Knight, of Friends of St James Fulbrook, said: “I am hoping what it will do is identify what is essential, what needs to be done, what we can do ourselves and what requires expert help.
“The church is our village meeting place, people come in to the church who are not practising Christians. They want to use it for their family events, so we have tried to appeal to the whole community to support us.
“We’re here to make sure the church building is here for generations to come.”
The tombs date back to the 17th to 19th Century and are recognisable for their flat slab table top, and upright supports.
Adam Klups, Care of Churches and DAC Team Leader for the Diocese of Gloucester, said: “The Gloucester Table Top Tomb Conservation project team was very keen to invite a churchyard in another diocese to take part in the scheme, and we thank the Oxford Church Buildings colleagues for identifying Fulbrook’s collection of table top tombs as deserving conservation attention.
“We are pleased to be working with the Diocese of Oxford on this important conservation initiative which has already sparked national interest.”
Once the tombs have been surveyed, the Friends will be deciding what works needs to be undertaken and how to fund them.
The diocese church buildings team can offer advice and support if your church or churchyeard needs works done.