Church Roof and Renovation Updates

Picture credits: Mary Mannering https://www.flickr.com/photos/catholicwestminster/albums/72177720327236223/

Bringing our church back to life for generations to come!

We celebrated The Grand Reopening of The Sacred Heart Church Teddington building over the weekend of Friday 27- Sunday 29 June 2025!

The pictures above show the celebrations, and the snaps below the journey, but here’s the backstory.

One Sunday night on the Valentine’s weekend of 2022 a mighty storm Eunice became the final straw that cracked roof of Sacred Heart Parish Church in Teddington.

At one time the Church had been extended; the front third, from about the choir balcony to the front doors, was added on. Over time this part had begun to shift minutely, dropping down and away from the original building. The Storm helped it along and the ceiling lathe and plaster joint cracked. No one was hurt, thanks be to God, but, as you can see, it didn’t look good. And sure enough, investigations revealed the scale of the damage, though out of sight, was  potentially extensive.

It was our own Notre Dame!

Repair work started in November 2024, after a gargantuan holy spirit-filled collective effort – from an incredibly generous grant that was match-funded, and further donations and pledges by parishioners and well-wishers, to hours of planning, liaising, grant submissions and meetings by Fr Stephen and the Diocese. The money needed was in place..

Beautiful new roof
…in the afternoon sun
the ceiling is coming along beautifully
Carefully overseeing works..
shoring up the arches
monumental scaffolding
The roof slates wern’t in bad order, nor part of the issue, but they are being replaced, non negotiable
The ceiling is being taken down to access the cracks in the stonework
Looking back to the organ loft, the rafters are in good shape, insulation is added, its the masonry needs alot of tlc
Our very own Notre Dame!
Original church rafters are in good shape here
…and here
anyone for heights?
ORB board (weatherproof layer) goes onto of the rafters
finishing the right hand side
and the left side

Together with our fundraising and a loan from the Diocese, the money was made available for the renovations.

Of the estimated total cost we have raised one third. We are continuing to fundraise because the more we can raise now, the lower the loan will be and that’s all to the good for our future generations.

So can we ask, please keep on giving and ask your friends and acquaintances too: donations, however large or small pledged or spur of the moment, are so welcome..

You can make donations online here, or support the “donate a slate” roofing slates appeal specifically, here.
Donations can also be made electronically (by tapping the donation machine at the back of church – put in your address once for gift aid and you’re good to go) or the old fashioned way, any lose change warmly welcomed in the tub at the back of church.

There are also posters with a QR at The Sacred Heart school Teddington and in front of our church as well as a QR on the newsletter.

We are so grateful and happy to be back in the main church building. Thank you for helping us make it a beacon of light and Gods love for our worshipers, our local community and for generations to come.