Chapel Maintenance and Restoration in 2024

The Friends of Lancing Chapel dedicate themselves to the preservation and restoration of our Chapel, a commitment that has garnered significant recognition over the years. In keeping with this legacy, the Chapel was selected to host the prestigious 2024 Sussex Heritage Trust Awards Ceremony, where for the first time ever, guests were treated to a luncheon in the nave. Jeremy Tomlinson, Steward of Lancing Chapel, remarked, “Sussex is very fortunate in having a Heritage Trust which for 26 years has ‘recognised and rewarded high quality conservation, restoration and good design of newly built projects and encouraged the use of traditional skills and crafts.’ Exactly what the Friends of Lancing Chapel are doing!”

Since 2007, the Chapel’s restoration efforts have won four Sussex Heritage Trust Awards, with one additional commendation. The first of these was awarded for comprehensive repairs and improvements to the clerestory windows. Since then, ongoing conservation has been carried out annually in careful phases, often requiring the expertise of rope-access specialists to reach the highest sections of the Chapel. Jeremy shared his admiration for the work, noting, “The range of work that can be done from ropes is astonishing, and we are very fortunate to have formed a working relationship with Vitruvius Conservation whose technical expertise and experience are matched by courage and inventiveness.”

However, not all areas are accessible by rope. This August, loose finials on the south elevation required the use of a cherry picker for emergency repairs. These repairs, visible only on the south side, will be completed next year. In September, Lancing Chapel welcomed Historic England’s Building Limes Forum, who visited to study the Chapel’s innovative conservation techniques for preserving its sandstone. Pioneering the use of sacrificial mortars, the Chapel team is protecting the building’s most vulnerable sections from weathering and environmental extremes.

Looking ahead, this summer’s Quinquennial Survey, led by Surveying Architect Louise Salman, has identified priority projects to safeguard the Chapel’s future. In early 2025, scaffolding will be erected over the high altar for work on the apse’s clerestory windows. Plans also include replacing copper sheeting on the south transept tower and repairs to the aisle windows.

The ongoing dedication to the Chapel’s restoration reflects the commitment of the Friends of Lancing Chapel, ensuring that future generations can appreciate this local landmark for years to come. The Friends of Lancing Chapel aim to preserve, care for, and enrich the Chapel for the benefit of all who use or visit it, and is a registered charity that operates independently of Lancing College. Discover more about joining the Friends of Lancing Chapel and explore the benefits of membership by clicking here.