St Mary de Crypt is a Grade I listed medieval church in the heart of Gloucester. The church and its Old Crypt Schoolroom were restored in 2019, bringing them back into use as a place of worship and community hub. The Sanctuary Project builds on this success, addressing urgent restoration needs in this lesser-used part of the building.
The project will remove, clean and stabilise stained-glass windows, conserve the impressive historic wall paintings and complete detailed scientific analysis of these, hoping to uncover how and why the artworks were created. It will also:
- explore what the paintings may once have looked like and share these discoveries with visitors
- restore niches, sedilia and all medieval ceiling bosses
- deliver skills and training opportunities, offering placements for university and A-level students
The paintings include the Adoration of the Magi which is believed to date from around 1530. Research suggests they could be connected to the visit of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn to Gloucester in 1535, offering a fascinating glimpse into the religious, political and artistic history of Tudor England.
Hellen O’Connor, Operations Manager at Discover Decrypt, said: “There’s something special about this space – the depth of history is amazing. Two thousand years of religion have dwelt on this spot, from the Temple of Jupiter built beneath the current building, to the modern spiritual and educational hub we welcome visitors to today.”
When the project is completed in 2028, visitors will be able to experience the stories behind the paintings and windows through new interpretation, audio guides and tactile replicas of historic carvings.
Since 1994, we have awarded £1.2billion to 8,500 places of worship projects across the UK. Discover more places of worship projects that we’re supporting.
