Pew news and new pews thanks to remarkable craftsmanship in Bloxham!

A remarkable project of craftsmanship and preservation has been completed at the heart of the Bloxham community, thanks to the tireless dedication of two highly skilled local volunteers, David Gordon and Bob Perkin-Ball.

Faced with the challenge of making space more flexible and accessible for modern use in The Friends of St Mary's Bloxham church, as part of the Building our Future (BOF) project, David and Bob stepped forward to undertake a demanding woodworking mission. Over the past months the duo has successfully transformed some of the church's original, cumbersome, long pews into a series of beautifully proportioned, smaller pews.

The church said: "Working in the time-honoured tradition of fine craftsmen of this church who have since medieval times carved stone and wood, painted frescoes and designed stained glass, the pair demonstrated a rare blend of skills in structural engineering and traditional carpentry with deep respect for the original material.

"The result of their hard work is nothing short of stunning. The new, shorter pews look as though they have always belonged in the building, while providing the church with much-needed versatility for services, community events and gatherings.

"The next time you visit, take a moment to admire the craftsmanship of these shorter pews, forming a central block in the central nave of the church.

"A massive thank you goes to David and Bob for their exceptional contribution, hard work and talent."

The Building our Future project has been delivered with the support of The Friends of St Mary's Bloxham. Further information is available at: https://www.stmarysbloxham.org.uk/building-our-future/