St Johns Church
Tombstone Restoration Project
January 2025
The next stages are to have the main gates re-hung back into place, a lectern sign to be done and placed in the Churchyard to explain about the project, and photobooks produced for keeping.
December 2024
Some of the finished tombs:
More photos of all of the finished tombs can be seen in the Church in a folder.
November 2024
The project also involved a day working with the local Primary School. Two classes attended throughout the day (one in the morning and one in the afternoon), where they were able to see the tops of the Jenner tombs (relations to Dr Edward Jenner) taken off. Lots of questions were asked and the children enjoyed a scavenger hunt afterwards inside and outside of the church. A packet of wildflower seeds were given to each school child and it is hoped these will be planted in the Spring.
October 2024
The open event was successful with many people attending and being able to talk with the conservationists on site, see works happening and socialise in the church looking at information on the project with refreshments available. information on upcoming biodiversity projects within the church grounds was also available asking for comments on how people would like to see the churchyard kept and allow for wild flower growth in areas, questionnaires were available and free seeds were handed out to promote flowers for bees in people’s gardens.
St Johns Churchyard open event – tombs restoration
Come and join us between 12 – 4 at the Church on Friday 25th October to learn about the works being done to restore the churchyard tombs, with thanks to the generous grant from The National Heritage Lottery Fund. There will be information from the History Society and Biodiversity information with the Parish Council. Refreshments are being served by members of the church, and you can see the Conservation team in action restoring the tombs, and see the changes in the tombs already restored – ready to last another couple of hundred years!
Long Tomb:
Phillimore Tomb:
September 2024
Big thanks to Volunteers for clearance of 3 tombs covered in brambles and vegetation, helped along with cakes!
July 2024
Slimbridge Parish Council have been successful in obtaining a grant for just over £116,000 to have the 24 tombs, church railings and gates restored. This is thanks to The National Heritage Lottery.
Using money raised by National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund supports projects that connect people and communities with the UK’s heritage. St Johns Church tombs, railings and gates restoration project is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we will be able to restore the tombs and conserve history for the Parish of Slimbridge
The National Lottery Heritage Fund is the largest funder for the UK’s heritage. Using money raised by National Lottery players we support projects that connect people and communities to heritage. Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. From historic buildings, our industrial legacy and the natural environment, to collections, traditions, stories and more. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past. The National Lottery Heritage Fund: Home
2022 and 2023
The Parish Council are planning to look at how to restore the listed tombs within the Churchyard, reports have been commissioned and a tender has gone out to obtain quotes for the works. This will then be the basis of applying for funds through the Heritage Lottery and other sources.
The below reports are the surveys done on each of the listed tombs with the proposed works to be carried out
Centreline Slimbridge Report 1
Centreline Slimbridge Report 2