~ The Tester ~
Restoration
The Tester Above The Pulpit
We completed the restoration of the Tester in time for Easter 2013. According to the inscription on the Tester itself, it was made in 1757, and presented by J Seale ARMG.
We began fund-raising from Charities and Trusts
for this work in Spring 2012; by the end of the year, 10 of them had pledged almost £17,000. Together with some individual Village donations and the proceeds from a talk by Michael Vyner, we had sufficient funds to start in January 2013, with the removal of the Tester, including the topping Angel, to the restorers' workshops. Work was also initiated on a stainless steel structure supporting the oak beam coming out of the wall, to support the whole.
The restoration was finished in time for it to be seen in beautiful condition for Easter 2013. This completes the restoration of the Georgian furniture in this Church.
Fund-raising for the Tester Restoration
The PCC, the Congregation and Community of Cornworthy are extremely grateful for the Grants and Donations given by the following (in no order of priority). Each Trust has also helped fund earlier stages of the restoration of St Peter’s
- Stuart Heath Charitable Settlement
- Barbara Whatmore Charitable Trust
- Church Buildings Council
- Archdeacon of Totnes Fund
- Devon Historic Churches Trust
- St Andrew’s Conservation Trust
- Society of Antiquaries (William Morris)
- AllChurches Trust Ltd
- The Georgian Group
- The Idlewild Trust
- Michael Vyner and his evening
- Individual Village Donations
Total funding of £17,336, against a total cost of £18,074
We are also very grateful to Hugh Harrison Timber Conservation and craftsmen and Elizabeth Cheadle, Painted and Decorated Wood Conservator, for the careful nature of their restoration work; both Conservators have carried out earlier work on the restoration of St Peter’s.
