When the church of Saint John was consecrated in 1957, the architect, Stephen Dykes Bower said that it would last forty years without needing much maintenance. After that time, he suggested that there should be an overhaul of the building, to put right any problems.
Now in 2003, the church has gone 45 years without very much having been done. It has, on the whole, weathered well, although the time has now come for that major overhaul that Dykes Bower spoke of.
In the next few years, we are going to have to undertake some serious structural repairs to the building. The effects of pollution, weather and damage by pigeons especially to the roof, and pointing of the church are now beginning to take their toll.
In order that the parish may carry out essential repair work, and thereby safeguarding the future of the building, we are looking at a bill of £250,000. Clearly, this is beyond the means of our own congregation here at Saint John's Newbury, and so we are launching an appeal to the town's people of Newbury and far beyond, to raise this money to save this important church from further deterioration.
