St Mary’s Church, Featured in Downton Abbey, Undergoes Urgent Roof Repairs

St Mary’s Church in Bampton, Oxfordshire, known for its appearance in Downton Abbey, is currently undergoing critical repairs to address a roof leak. The estimated cost for this work exceeds £120,000. The deterioration of two flat lead roofs situated on the building’s south side has resulted in water infiltration close to both the main entrance and the organ. Constructed in the 11th Century, this church served as the location for Lady Mary’s wedding to Matthew Crawley within the popular period drama. According to Churchwarden Darrell Jacobs, “The ingress of water has caused damage and, as would be expected, renders the areas beneath the leaks unusable.” He further stated that these repairs, financed by benefactors and local fundraisers, are intended to restore full usability to all sections of the building. Many will identify the structure as St. Michael and All Angels Church, which functions as the Anglican parish church in the fictional village of Downton, where Albert Travis delivers sermons to the villagers and the Crawley family. Mr. Jacobs noted that the church draws approximately 22,000 visitors annually, comprising both local residents and international tourists. The completion of these repairs is anticipated by 25 November. For further updates, BBC Oxfordshire can be followed on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. This content is Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites and provides information regarding its approach to external linking.