Next steps

2025 - Engaging Help and Preparing for the National Lottery Bid

In November 2025, Fr Tom and Brian Mooney met with Suzi Pendleton, the heritage architect, Sofie Andreae, the chair of the Catholic Bishop's conference Patrimony committee, Josephine Warren, Historic churches advisor, and Jane Hellings, heritage expert. 

This important meeting came, by God's providence, the day after the parish received the news of a large legacy from Mr. Andrew Carmichael. This legacy meant that the Restoration Project could begin seriously looking at the steps to heal the building.

It was decided that the first works, Phase I, would focus on halting the continual decline of the building, preserving those parts of the church most in danger, and unveiling something dramatic. It was decided then to focus on four areas - i. restoring the stained glass West Window (which was buckling and liable to be lost in part), ii. mending the aisle roofs and iii. managing the rainwater outside the church through new and plentiful guttering (this will stop the leaks in the church and it's continual decay) and iv. revealing the beautiful original ceiling hidden for decades by a panelled covering.

On an autumn afternoon in 2024, volunteers at Our Ladye Star of the Sea found something that had been hidden for almost 60 years.

They were working on the restoration project and had begun the process of removing the 1960s cork tiles to reveal the original red and black Victorian quarry tiles.

But close to the altar they stumbled across some ornately decorated tiles, believed to be designed and commissioned by Pugin himself, which once had formed a ‘votive square’ with inscriptions remembering Our Lady.

They’d been put there by craftsmen more than 170 years ago. How remarkable is it to say they have made a new Pugin discovery?

That’s one example of how we’re beginning to move forward with our restoration, step by step, learning more as we go along.

This website is part of that process, providing a place where we’ll be able to share updates and invite support for the next stages of the restoration scheme.

The importance of the project has been established with a formal Statement of Heritage Significance. And the need for action is reflected in Historic England putting the church on its register of heritage at risk.

There will be a need for professional involvement, such as ensuring the building is watertight and the stonework is secure.

But we’ll still want to involve volunteers from the parish and other supporters, including in fundraising initiatives. See photos of our team at work in the restoration-gallery.

In the months and years ahead we’ll need many different skills to restore this beautiful church. Get in touch if you want to join us.