Re-Install Historic Weathervane St Mary's Church

Fans of the BBC Television programme The Repair Shop may remember the repair of a very rusty weather cock featured in a programme in January 2021, and Benfleet residents will wonder why it has not been restored to its rightful place on top of St Mary the Virgin Spire.

Well, thereby hangs another tale in the long history of St Mary’s, whose beginnings can be traced back to Norman times.

The vane was originally erected in 1785, but following a storm in 2019, it disappeared. Eventually, it was found in a dark corner inside the tower in a sad, rusty state. What to do! It looked beyond repair, but as we know, nothing is too much for the Repair Shop.

Weather Vane before restoration

Weather vane after restoration

Now all that’s needed is to put it back on top of the spire! As some may know, nothing is easy with a grade-one-listed building and with current safety regulations. However, with all plans made, necessary precautions taken, and money raised, it was carefully hoisted to the top of the spire. Everything went well until it was found that all that was in the spire to rest the vane on was a decaying tree trunk, probably dating back to 1785. Totally unsafe to hold the vane.

So this is where we are now, the vane inside the church, not on the spire. We have obtained quotes for installing a new mounting post and replacing the vane from companies approved by our diocesan architect. The cheapest of these is £5,595.83 plus VAT. Church members had contributed generously to the previous abortive attempt to replace the vane and have now raised an additional £5,000 to put it back in its rightful place.

We are nearly there, but we need a little help from you to raise the final £1600 required for this project. Can you please help us by contributing to this project, say £5.00 or £10 and then take pride when you see it back in place, another chapter in St Mary’s long history.#

As a small gesture of our thanks, you will receive a certificate and an invitation to a thanksgiving tea.