August 2026 project update

1. Herringbone builders, supervised by our church architect Stephanie Norris, have completed capital repairs to the church building, including erecting external scaffolding, glazing and stonework repairs to the clerestory windows, repointing and window repairs to the tower, repairs to the drainage channels, and recoating the clunch stonework.  
   1. Scaffolding is due to be taken down by July1st so that Sunday morning services can restart and the church will be open to visitors over july and August.
   2. There are a few outstanding tasks to be completed in September including painting the repaired plaster over the organ and repairs outside on the north west corner when the bees have calmed down (Thanks to Peter Bates for his advice on this)
   3. About 35 people attended the talk by David Sears, craftsman glazier and Stephanie Norris. This was very well received. We intend producing short case studies of the crafts people involved in the project. 
2. Hirst conservation are due to start repairs and conservation work to the church's wall paintings in September, due to complete by November 1^st before the Bats hibernate.
   1. We have to complete a health and safety plan but expect that, although the church will not be open to visitors, we should be able to use it for services.
   2. Hirst will offer
      1. Hard hat tours
      2. Fresco workshops
3. Hannah Battesby, Heritage Education Consultant, has worked with volunteers to co-create a range of accessible engagement materials. These include
   1. “Every Picture Tells a Story” school visit pack exploring creative ways to engage with images in parish churches. She has been working with Rev Lydia Smith to adapt the materials we created for the Ickleton whole school visit in 2025. We adapted the approach with Duxford School at St Peters Church Duxford. These ideas will be shared with Deanery colleagues when we host a workshop for church volunteers and teachers in 2027.
   2. Trails for families with younger children, based upon finding different stories in the church are being developed based upon these stories:
      1. Last supper in the wall paintings
      2. History of the church/ village using kneeler and monuments
      3. Stories in the stained-glass windows
   3. (foldable) Information boards are being developed for display at the back of the church featuring
      1. Church history including the fire
      2. Church layout and features monuments
      3. Wall paintings
      4. Community and family Events
      5. Ecology (including bats/ bees/ mosses/
   4. A guide to help volunteers, event co-ordinator’s  and ministry teams to ensure we meet the needs of SEND visitors of all ages
4. Robyn Wilson Owen is our community artist facilitator and she is linking up with different village groups to sketch and create images along the theme ‘community meals.’
5. 1. ran children’s workshops in Easter holidays- 
   2. is sketching at various venues around the village including the cricket club/ pub/club/
   3. will produce an art work collating the observations and work to celebrate communal meals and gatherings in Ickleton 2026
   4. has offered to run workshops to learn how to lino cut and draw in ink (maybe at the pub)
   5. will create a new church art work to be displayed at the back of the church
5. Lucy Bailey is working with us to evaluate the project in line with The National Lottery Heritage Fund guidance.
6. Bats
   1. Ecologists have conducted bat surveys to ensure that all building work is carried our following Natural England guidelines. They have identified Pipistrelle and some Long eared bats who access the church through gaps on the north side. Builders adapted their scaffolding to ensure full access for them. All building and conservation work has been scheduled between bat hibernation and possible roosting times. Their observations and monitoring indicated that there is not a significant roost.
   2. There will be a bat walk on the evening August 12^th with refreshments organised by Friends of Ickleton Church
   3. A bat cleaning workshop will be run for volunteers when the church reopens in November.
7. Local author Rosemary Hayes and Illustrator Jenny Duke are working on a picture book trail for families featuring a bat trail.
8. Software consultant Joe Middleton from Wild-fi has developed the phone app info-point with funds donated by the Friends of Ickleton Church. There were initial trials over Easter
   1. Over the summer he will run a workshop to
      1. Get feedback on how its working
      2. Gather ideas for further content
      3. Recruit more volunteers to update content

St Mary Magdalene Church wall paintings project January 2026

Church services will continue in a range of venues whilst the building closes for phase 1 of our conservation project. These include Parish Communion in the village hall, family gathering in Icklewoods and harvest in the churchyard: look out for notices on Ickleton info and www.hinkledux.com for times and dates.
Scaffolders are due to arrive on Monday April 13th to prepare the way for masons to repair the stone work and glaziers to remove the highest ‘clerestory’ windows. Hopefully this work will be completed by the beginning of July. Ready for the building to be opened for the summer.  The schedule can found below.
Meanwhile there are some exciting activities – especially for families
You are invited to fun FREE Family “DROP IN” ACTIVITIES during the Easter holidays
Bring your children, grandchildren or neighbours to our free family events. You can explore, create and learn about the past. These are “drop-in” (not drop-off!) – stay-as long-as you like- events, run by professionals.
Over 1000 years ago artists created a fresco high up on the church walls to share the story of Jesus’s last meal with his friends.  This year we have commissioned professional illustrator Robyn Wilson- Owen to create pictures showcasing celebratory meals in Ickleton. She needs your help! All materials are provided but maybe bring a shirt or apron because it could get messy.
We know some things about the frescos but there is more to discover. Join Heritage Education Officer Hannah Battesby to explore ideas and theories with games, quizzes and creative activities:
-              Try out techniques used by artists to make your own images
-              Lego challenges
-              Bring along a smart-phone or iPad to trial our new app
-              Imagine how it feels to be part of the action in our dress-up photo booth
-              Test your powers of observation with quizzes, games and other fun activities
Join them on:
Sunday March 29 2-5pm. Family collage workshop with Robyn
Saturday April  4th & Tuesday April 7th 2-5pm. History Explorers with Hannah
 
CAN YOU LEND A HAND?
As you can imagine there’s lots of work to do around these events. Could you help, set up/ clear up or serve refreshments at the family events?
Or
Provide bit of muscle on Friday 10am April 10th   to clear moveable items so that they are protected from dust and knocks
Email jenny duke ickletonpcc@gmail.com if you can help