Project news
Spring 2026: new electric boiler & plans for roof repairs
A huge thank you to everyone who has supported our fundraising events or donated towards St Sampson’s Church’s new heating system. We have had numerous delays in getting the new electric boiler switched on! We appreciate your patience when the church has been even colder than normal!
Our next steps are:
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Installing PV panels and batteries later this year to help offset some of the costs of electric heating and as part of our commitment to sustainability. We are in the process of applying for permissions. The PV panels will not be visible from the ground.
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Raising funds to repair the North Aisle and North Transept roofs so they are watertight before we start on the internal refurbishment.
Fundraising target for the roofs: £222,000 (includes contractors, materials, scaffolding and professional fees). It also includes VAT which we now need to pay on everything because the Listed Building VAT Reclaim Scheme has unfortunately finished.
There are grants we can apply for but we need to have raised 50% of the funds first.
Thank you in advance for your support for our fundraising events and for your donations. We are very grateful.
Revised sketch plan March 24
We are excited to report that the first consultation with statutory bodies is complete and we have a revised sketch plan of the church refurbishment and new visuals - see the homepage. The new plan takes into account their feedback and yours from the consultation last summer. You may like to see the latest plan on the display boards in Church.
Our next step for the internal refurbishment is to develop the detailed plans in preparation for submitting a faculty to the Diocese so we can obtain permission for the project. We need to raise £20,000 for this part of the project.
Nave roof completed - July 2021
Despite high winds and rain in May, which resulted in some days when work on the nave roof was not possible, work was finally completed in July, including removal of the scaffolding.
Wooden boards along the ridge line and the abutment with the west wall needed replacing. Laying the new lead on the part of the roof which abuts the tower proved to be a very complicated procedure. It required much dressing of the lead to follow the contours of the tower wall.
Watch our latest video of the making of a lead rain hopper for St Sampson's South Transept roof
South Transept Roof Repairs Completed
On 16 December 2021, the roofing contractors finished the roof repair on the South Transept. After approximately 10 weeks of work, punctuated by poor weather conditions and unscheduled wooden structure repairs, it is fantastic that this first milestone has been reached.
Funding secured to allow first stage of project to proceed.
26th October 2020
The first stage of much needed repairs to the roof of St Sampson’s Church have begun, thanks to a £20,000 grant which St Sampson’s Church PCC has received from Crapper & Sons Ltd, and a £10,000 grant from Hills Group Ltd. The grant was made available through the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF) which is administered for Crapper & Sons Ltd. and Hills Group Ltd. by Community First, the Rural Community Council for Wiltshire.
Our thanks are also due for grants which have also been awarded by the Red Lion Charity and Wiltshire Historic Churches.