Holy Trinity Church Long Melford hosts scaffolding climb

Holy Trinity Church in Long Melford is in the midst of an extensive scheme, which started in mid-May, that will see all 38 clerestory windows and the east window repaired. 

The cost of the programme is in the region of £150,000, so to raise some cash the church invited residents to buy a ticket to explore the church with a scaffolding climb and tour. 

Visitors during the scaffolding tour led by the church architect (Image: Judi Moss)

The project cost in the region of £150,000 (Image: Judi Moss)

A total of 32 ticket-holders took part on August 10, when they were taken up onto the high scaffold where the church's architect, who is overseeing the project, gave them a talk on the history of the building's structure and layout. 

Visitors got up close with the roof beams, masonry and ironwork and had a birds' eye view into the interior from the dizzying heights. 

Judi Moss, one of the organisers, said: "None of those sights have been seen for centuries and won’t again for probably another couple of centuries at least.

"The tours ended with tea and cake for those hardy folks who needed a shot of sugar to steady their legs upon descent to terra firma!"

The dizzying view into the church (Image: Judi Moss)

Tour guests at the top of the scaffolding (Image: Judi Moss)

Work on the church should finish mid-December before this year's Christmas celebrations.

On Friday, September 15, the church will hold a "Pimms and Hymns" evening and tickets can be purchased for £10 by calling Cheryl on 07943811030. 

Further fundraising days, including children's activities like Lego modelling and a treasure hunt, will take place September 16 and 17 starting with the firing of a live cannon each day on the village green. 

The church is open daily and admission is free from 10am to 6pm until end October, then 10am to 4pm onwards.