Wren300 is a tercentenary celebration of Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723) – Mathematician, Astronomer and one of the country’s most distinguished Architects, best known for the design of many London churches, including St Paul’s Cathedral. The WREN300 Square Mile Churches Project is supported by the Diocese of London, the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the City of London Corporation.
As proud partners of WREN300 Cliveden Conservation is delivering a series of conservation workshops (stone, wood, plaster, metal and glass). Join our team at St Mary Abchurch, Abchurch Lane, City of London, London, EC4N 7BA. for the second in this series which focuses on wood conservation.
Wood carving discovery experience
Tuesday 25th April 2023 (10am-12 noon and 1pm-3pm)
A rare chance to speak to expert conservators about the magnificent array of wood carvings, including Grinling Gibbons’ remarkable altar screen, inside one of Wren’s more hidden masterpiece, St Mary Abchurch, situated just off Cannon Street.
This all-encompassing experience event includes expert commentary from the world of timber conservation. See conservation in action and ecclesiastical wood carving in person.
Throughout each morning and afternoon session, a professional carver from Swan Farm Studios will be carrying out carving repairs to historic fretwork panels from the church. For those who are inspired by this skilled craftsmanship, there will be opportunities to ‘have a go’ at letter cutting and marking in wood.
Visitors can find out more from wood conservators who will be undertaking cleaning trials inform future work on the famous wood reredos. Members of the public, students and conservation professionals are all welcome.
St Mary Abchurch is open to the public Monday to Thursday. To register your interest in attending the free morning or afternoon ‘Ecclesiastical Wood Carving Discovery Experience’ sessions (10am-12 noon and 1pm-3pm) please visit.
REGISTER YOUR INTEREST
Wood carving discovery experience
Wednesday 26th April 2023 (10am-12 noon and 1pm-3pm)
A rare chance to speak to expert conservators about the magnificent array of wood carvings, including Grinling Gibbons’ remarkable altar screen, inside one of Wren’s more hidden masterpieces, St Mary Abchurch, situated just off Cannon Street.
As visitors move through the church, they will see Oscar Whapham, an apprentice carver from W Thomas Restorations Ltd carrying out carving repairs to the historic fretwork panels. Oscar has been involved in several high-profile carving projects including the chandeliers for the King’s Drawing Room at Kensington Palace. He will be joined by an expert carver from Swan Farm Studios
For those who are inspired by this skilled craftsmanship, there will be opportunities to ‘have a go’ at letter cutting and marking in wood.
Visitors can find out more from wood conservators who will be undertaking cleaning trials inform future work on the famous wood reredos. Members of the public, students and conservation professionals are all welcome.
St Mary Abchurch is open to the public Monday to Thursday. To register your interest in attending the free morning or afternoon ‘Ecclesiastical Wood Carving Discovery Experience’ sessions (10am-12 noon and 1pm-3pm) please visit.
REGISTER YOUR INTEREST
Conservation of historic timber
Thursday 27th April 10am – 12 noon, 1pm-3pm
Master Carver, Alan Lamb, will be giving a fascinating insight into wood anatomy using microscopy techniques. He will demonstrate how surface staining and historic layers can be detected and subsequently inform appropriate conservation cleaning and treatment of historic timber.
Visitors can also see conservation in action. Oscar Whapham, an apprentice carver from W Thomas Restorations Ltd and an expert carver from Swan Farm Studios will be carrying out carving repairs to the historic fretwork panels. Cliveden Conservation will also be continuing with their cleaning trials to the famous wood reredos.
Conservators will be on hand throughout the day to talk to visitors about the work taking place.
Talks by Alan Lamb 10.30am and 1.30pm
St Mary Abchurch is open to the public Monday to Thursday. To register your interest in attending the free morning or afternoon ‘Conservation of Historic Timber in Ecclesiastical Settings’ sessions (10am-12 noon and 1pm-3pm) please visit.
REGISTER YOUR INTEREST
Wood Conservation Evening
Thursday 4th May 6pm – 9pm
Master Carver, Alan Lamb, honorary member of The Worshipful Company of Joiners and Ceilers in the City of London, presents his talk ‘Wren’s Woodcarvers – Genius and Rivalry in 17th Century London’s Carving Workshops.’
St Mary Abchurch retains a unique range of wood carving by some of the finest carvers of late 17th century England, including two – Grinling Gibbons and William Emmett – who at different times both held the post of The King’s Master Carver. The church provides a unique opportunity to examine Gibbons’ carving in the context of work by lesser known but highly accomplished rivals. Alan will be talking about the carvings, the carvers, and the workshop techniques used to produce this astounding work in the context of Christopher Wren’s London. The talk will also consider some of the issues and techniques involved in the conservation of seventeenth-century wood carving.
The second talk is being delivered by Dr Lee Prosser, Buildings Curator at Historic Royal Palaces and contributing author to the book ‘Kensington Palace: Art, Architecture and Society’. He will look at the work of Grinling Gibbons and other carvers at Kensington Palace. Research in the last few years has transformed our understanding of how these carvings were integrated into the historic interiors of the palace and his talk will trace the process of conservation and how this has altered our perception of them.
The third and final speaker is Tony Webb, past president of the Master Carvers’ Association and former Master Carver at St Paul’s Cathedral. He will be talking about his life’s work as a Gibbons carver.
BOOK YOUR FREE TICKET
Would you like to get involved?
Conservation Assistants Volunteers are required to help us in the setting up and smooth running of the WREN300 workshops held in April and May. Job description and more information
