Where’s the Vicar?

…the Custos…the Area Dean…the Churchwarden…the Chair of The Friends.

Look up.

The last day that the MEWP was at the Priory was officially Stakeholder Day, when members of the Priory team could view the high-level Medieval stained glass for themselves from the ‘comfort’ of the MEWP.

‘If you want to come down, just shout’ instructed Dan, the MEWP operator, as two by two, Priory volunteers wrestled on the full-body safety harness, scrambling elegantly into the MEWP cage and clipping themselves to the lifting equipment. There was absolutely no way they could fall.
‘It’s designed for this. You’re perfectly safe’ Dan told the slightly pale-looking first pair up.

At an altitude of maybe 10m, but looking down didn’t seem to be a popular pastime, the stained glass shone in the April sunshine. The faces of Medieval saints, angels and bishops came spectacularly into close focus. Living expressions from over 500 years ago, frozen in time. Unique. Perfect. And fragile. The expression of our faith, entrusted to the Priory of today and for generations to come.

The Vicar gave a short video reflection to the Curate, as they gripped the cage with one hand each, astounded both by the magnificence of the glass and by the fact they were actually up there, suspended at height.

Others followed, cameras securely in hand to capture the beauty of the glass. Some perfectly comfortable with heights, others overcoming fear to be able to see the treasures up close. The Area Dean, complete with cassock alb and stole made the final ascent having celebrated Holy Communion, minutes earlier, in the nave.

Below: A Custos- and Curates’-eye view what the nave looks like from 17m up.

With the Priory closed to visitors, Dylan and a team of impressively strong volunteers rebuilt the very substantial, very heavy ramp at the North door. The MEWP re-furled itself, its stabiliser arms pulled in close and it proceeded down the main aisle on an ever-moving human-assisted ‘conveyor belt’ of timber panels placed by the volunteers. Up the ramp, out to the churchyard it went. The ramp was dissembled and moved back to storage (see the video below). The Priory was swept. The first visitors ventured in, to a peaceful Priory, unaware of all that had just come to pass.

Thank you to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players, for the Development phase funding enabling the Priory to develop plans to conserve the Priory’s treasures and bring the facilities up to Twenty-First Century standards, for everyone, now and for generations to come.

Watch the MEWP’s departure and the impressive display of Priory strength, in timelapse, below.