Restoration of OLEM Nears Completion

Residents and visitors to the city of Cambridge are soon to be treated to a slow but spectacular unveiling, as the first stage of the restoration of one of the city’s landmark buildings reaches completion. 

For over six months, the tower of the Church of Our Lady of The Assumption and The English Martyrs (OLEM) has been concealed behind scaffolding and safety netting while specialist conservators and stonemasons have carried out essential repairs to the iconic Grade I listed church. With the works now drawing to a close, the extensive scaffolding will be dismantled over the next three months, revealing the restored and cleaned tower in all its glory.

Built at the end of the nineteenth century in the French Gothic style and completed in 1890, OLEM is the second largest Roman Catholic place of worship in East Anglia. A design competition, open to Catholic architects, was won by Dunn & Hansom of Newcastle. The church was the gift of one woman – Mrs Yolande Lyne-Stephens – who spent nearly seventy thousand pounds of her personal fortune to bring it to life.

The imposing 214 ft (65 metre) tower and spire is the tallest structure in the city of Cambridge and a familiar local landmark. Recent survey work undertaken by the parish revealed serious issues with the upper-level stonework of the pinnacles and gargoyles that adorn the tower. This prompted the launch of a large-scale restoration and repair project to safeguard the building for future generations.

Matthew Champion, Heritage Officer for the Roman Catholic Diocese of East Anglia, stated that:

“I think all of those who have worked on this project have been impressed by the sheer quality of workmanship and the skills of the Victorian craftsmen who originally built this iconic church. Using only hand tools, and working on a timber scaffold, they built something that rivals many medieval cathedrals. It has been a real privilege to get to see the church from an entirely new perspective, and work with many talented modern craftspeople to ensure that we preserve this Gothic revival masterpiece for future generations to appreciate.”

Rt Revd Mgr Canon E. Harkness, Rector and Parish Priest at OLEM, said:

“It has been truly inspiring to witness the care and craftsmanship that have gone into restoring our beloved church. This project is a wonderful expression of faith in action, ensuring that Our Lady of The Assumption and The English Martyrs will continue to stand as a beacon of hope and beauty for the people of Cambridge for generations to come.”

As stage one of the restoration nears completion, the project team are now planning the next steps in what is expected to be an extensive programme of restoration for the historic church.

Paul Raynes, Director of Operations and Finance for the Diocese, commented that:

“Taking down the scaffold gives Cambridge back a major landmark and is a cause for celebration. But we are very aware that the church still needs further major restoration works. We will face serious fundraising challenges for years. Both the parish and the Diocese are fully committed to ensuring that OLEM remains Cambridge’s dreaming, praying, spire for its second century and beyond.”

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