The 1857-8 St Helen's Restoration Committee
The initial appeal for subscriptions from the congregation set out the plans.
1. To relay the floor on a bed of concrete, and to repew the church.
2.To remove the present low ceiling, so as to open out the roof, and to change the place of the organ which at present blocks up the west window and obstructs the light.
3.To repair the mullions of several windows which at present are so decayed as to be unsafe.
4.To take down and rebuild portions of the north and south walls, which (especially the north) have given way so much they must either be supported or rebuilt to ensure the stability of the fabric.
The parish papers contain a further appeal.
The Committee...., while they gratefully acknowledge the liberal aid which they have received, desire to state that they have found it necessary to restore much more of the fabric than was originally intended, and consequently, to incur an expenditure which compels them to make an urgent appeal for further help.
As the work proceeded it was discovered that both the walls and roof of the church were in such state of decay as to require that there should be a [illegible] and that the whole of the walls should be taken down to the foundations with the exception of the West End.
This has now been done, and the committee feel assured that the work has been completed in a most satisfactory manner.
The cost of the whole restoration (exclusive of the Chancel which is due to the generosity of JJ Gutch Esq) will amount to not less than £1500 of which sum about £970 has already been received, leaving the sum of £530 to be yet raised.
The Committee trust that, under these circumstances, many of those who originally contributed, on the supposition that a smaller sum would be required, will be induced to add to their subscriptions; and that those others, who have not yet contributed, will not refuse their aid to this good work.