The Magdalene Campaign needs to raise £500,000 to restore and conserve Taunton's Grade 1 heritage and meet the needs of the 21st century. To date £165,000 has been raised and work has started on the external stone work.

Over the last decade £200,000 has been spent on repair and restoration. Now we have to find much more.

Areas where work is needed

  • CHANCEL ROOF PARAPET – work completed
  • CLERESTORY & WEST WINDOWS – work completed
  • ROOF – work completed
  • WIRING and LIGHTING - work completed
  • RE-DECORATION – repainting complete, cleaning of stonework remains outstanding
  • St ANDREW’S CHAPEL – work completed
  • ORGAN – major overhaul overdue
  • BELLS – one cracked and supports wearing away


THE BUILDING
During its 700 year history and particularly in the last two centuries St Mary Magdalene has suffered from the ravages of the elements and the output of Victorian factory chimneys. Work is needed in St Andrew Chapel within the church to reduce the increasing intrusion of noise as the numbers of visitors grow and enable the planned extension of the church's daily ministry to proceed. In particular, this Chapel is used constantly for weekday community services and is to be the base for a healing ministry.

  

THE ORGAN
St Mary Magdalene is fortunate in having a very fine three-manual organ built in 1882 by the then father of organ builders, Henry Willis. Now described as a "superb example of the Willis sound", a comprehensive report advises "it is all very much in need of a thorough overhaul". The pneumatic action has also reached the end of its useful working life. The organ is poorly sited and so is not heard at anything like its best. When the major restoration work is in hand the opportunity needs to be taken to re-site the pipework to transform the quality of sound within the church and support the growing use of the church as a centre for music in Taunton.		    


THE BELLS
No one living or working in Taunton can fail to be aware of the bells of St Mary Magdalene with its distinctive Carillon. A book on Somerset written in 1633 records that the bell tower swayed when all 6 bells were rung. Today, there are 12 for ringing and only rarely can a full peal be allowed!

The present bells date from 1748 up to as late as 1955 when the cracked 10th bell was recast. Today the 6th bell is badly cracked and the fittings are nearing the end of their usual life. With the increasing threat to the integrity of the tower, an expert report advises the only course of action is for a new ring, hung lower in the tower. This will restore the quality of the bells.

  
 
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