Description:Workmen and a young boy are pictured removing a cupboard from the choir vestry at St. Chad’s Church in Stafford, in readiness of the second stage of the church's restoration scheme. Please contact us if you recognise anyone in the photograph.
The first stage of the restoration work began in 1953 on the north aisle and tower and this second stage commenced in 1954 on the south transept. The work required the demolition of the choir vestry, and digging new foundations for a new one. The Vicar, the Rev. Mr G A Wroe told the Newsletter that the brickwork of the existing choir vestry had deteriorated so badly and was out of keeping with the rest of the church, that it would be rebuilt from stone. He hoped for some interesting archaeological finds, but did not anticipate that there would be any remains of a Saxon building. Mr Wroe added that St. Chad’s could boast a fine Norman arch and other Norman features of church architecture which might mean that foundations of an earlier Norman church could be found.
The necessity for this restoration work was blamed partly on the poor quality of earlier restoration work carried out in the 1880s. When the first stage of work on the north aisle and tower commenced in 1953 much of the stonework was found to be in a worst state than at first thought and new stone for the tower cost £500. The first stage had been completed and the second stage had commenced, but there still remained the south aisle and chancel, which both needed attention. It was estimated that £7,500 would be required and so far £2000 had been donated to the restoration fund and practically the whole of this amount was used to meet the cost of the repairs already made.
The work required the organ to be removed for safety and to avoid being damaged by dust during the demolition work. It was moved to the nearby schoolroom and cleaned thoroughly before being reinstalled. This work would cost £2,500 and towards this the part proceeds were used from the recent ball and fete held by the Earl and Countess of Shrewsbury at Ingestre Hall. It was hoped to raise a further £100 from a flag day in the town in September and two grants of £250 had been promised. Mr Wroe expected the work would be completed and the organ re-installed by Christmas.
This photograph was published in the Staffordshire Newsletter on Saturday 7 August 1954. Reproduced by kind permission of the Staffordshire Newsletter who retain copyright.