St John's Church Spire Open Day and Work Progress
Behind the Scenes at St John’s: Our Team Meets the Public at the “Side by Side” Open Day
On Saturday 24th May, we had the pleasure of taking part in the “Side by Side” Open Day at St John’s Church in Bromsgrove, where we’re currently carrying out the extensive conservation and repair of the iconic Grade I listed spire — the tallest in Worcestershire.
The day, organised by the Friends of St John’s, was a brilliant opportunity for the local community to step inside the project and see what’s involved in preserving such a significant piece of historic architecture. As the specialist contractor leading the works on the spire, we were proud to contribute to the event and talk about the craftsmanship, techniques, and care that go into every detail of the job.
Showing the Craft
Stonemasons, Lewis Allard and Ben Curry, were on hand at the Stonemason’s Corner, giving live pointing and carving demonstrations and answering questions about the types of stone being used, the tools involved, and the traditional carving techniques we rely on to match and replace damaged masonry. Visitors even had the chance to try their hand at carving a piece of sandstone — a great way to appreciate the level of precision and patience the work demands.
Alongside them, project engineer Ian Ceney hosted the Engineer’s Corner, sharing insight into how the spire has stood firm for centuries and how we're reinforcing and protecting it to ensure it stays standing for many more. Using a model of the church and a fan to demonstrate wind load, Ian helped explain some of the unseen technical challenges behind conserving a structure of this height and age.
A Conversation with the Community
Project lead architect, Stephen Oliver, was also on-site with detailed drawings and plans to help people understand the broader scope of the project — from structural repairs to fine conservation detailing. It was rewarding to see just how interested the public were in the intricacies of restoring a 15th-century spire using a mix of modern engineering and centuries-old craftsmanship.
There was a genuine sense of appreciation for the work, and it meant a lot to us to be able to connect with the community who walk past the church every day and see the scaffolding. Events like this remind us just how much these buildings mean to the towns they belong to — they’re not just architectural landmarks, they’re part of people’s everyday lives and shared history.
Progress on Site
We’re now around the halfway point in the spire restoration, with several key phases of work already completed and more well underway. Recent progress includes:
Careful dismantling of the top 3 metres of severely weathered stonework, along with the safe removal of the counterweighted weather vane for conservation and eventual reinstatement.
Repointing works completed in targeted patches across the upper eight scaffold lifts, where open or defective joints have been raked out and repointed using traditional lime mortars.
Stone replacements currently in preparation — new masonry is being cut and shaped by our stonemasons in the workshop and is nearly ready for installation on site. Each replacement block has been carefully matched to the original in both material and profile.
All work is being delivered in accordance with established conservation best practices, and in close collaboration with the church architect and heritage officers to ensure both authenticity and longevity.
Our Thanks
We’d like to thank the Friends of St John’s for organising such a well-attended and engaging day, and to everyone who stopped to speak with us, ask questions, or simply share their support for the project.
We’re now approaching the halfway mark in the restoration programme, and we look forward to continuing our work with care, precision, and pride. We’ll keep sharing updates as the project progresses — and we can’t wait for the moment the spire is fully revealed once again in all its glory.