Visitors to Great St Mary’s in Sawbridgeworth are spoilt for choice when it comes to stunning wall memorials. One that stands out is Viscount George Hewyt’s memorial, a remarkable sculptured piece in marble, made after he died in 1689.
Last year it was decided that the memorial for Viscount George needed to be cleaned and conserved. The Friends of Great St Mary’s took up the challenge and have overseen the whole project.
Skillington Workshop was appointed as the conservator and the work was carried out in January and February this year at a cost of £21,575 (plus £4,315 VAT); the Friends contributed £16,575 and a conservation grant of £5,000 was received from ChurchCare (supported by the Pilgrims Trust); the Government’s Listed Places of Worship scheme refunded the VAT of £4,315 VAT. The work was carried out by Emma Teale and Theo Gayer Anderson under the overall supervision of David Carrington.
“George now looks very dapper in all his clean finery, if you’re passing by do drop in and admire him! A big thank you to everyone involved in this project.” Ann Wise, Historic Church Buildings Support Officer
Great St Mary’s is a vibrant community of believers dedicated to worship, fellowship, and service. Their mission to share God’s love and make a positive impact in the world through compassionate outreach and meaningful connections, includes welcoming visitors to their historic church building and inviting those who are interested in the preservation of the building and fabric to join the Friends of Great St Mary’s.
