Member Article

Treske praised for "magnificent" work on 11th century Humberside church

Treske, the leading North Yorkshire manufacturer of bespoke furniture, kitchens and church furnishings, has played a key role in restoring the historic All Saints Church in Winterton, North Lincs, to its former glory.

All Saints, Winterton, a beautiful, 11th century Grade 1-listed church set in the heart of a tight-knit North Lincolnshire community, has just undergone a £1 million refurbishment.

The award-winning Treske, based in Thirsk, has been praised by the church for “its expertise and commitment and for doing an absolutely magnificent job.”

Justin Bartlett, the owner and managing director of Treske, said: “We were delighted to hear that the furniture has been so well-received. This was an important project for us, as our furniture played a key role in banishing the dark Victorian interior of the church and replacing it with a blaze of light, space and colour.”

He explained: “This significant commission builds on our reputation in the area after our successful work nearby at St Andrew’s in Epworth. We were determined that our attention to detail, which included incorporating a unique North Lincolnshire religious motif, combined with our craftsmanship, would create church furniture which would complement the high standard of the restoration and of which All Saints could be proud.”

“Specifically, we were able to revolutionise the interior of the church by removing the Victorian pews and introducing attractive and bespoke modern church furniture, which both respected the heritage of the church and ensured that All Saints looks and feels that it is part of the 21st century. Our furniture included nearly 100 St Wilfrid side chairs, 16 St Wilfrid armchairs, 96 St Nicholas folding chairs, two hymn book cabinets, two Parish room cabinets, one personally-designed altar and one memorial book stand.

“The community of Winterton has worshipped at All Saints for nigh on a millennium. Its striking Anglo-Norman tower, which presides over the small town like a guardian angel, is Winterton’s most famous landmark and a glorious reminder of its illustrious past. The church’s fabulous, on-going restoration builds imaginatively on this past and, by doing so, has created a fitting place of worship for the next millennium,” he added.

Robin Shawyer, church treasurer and driving force behind the restoration of All Saints, commented: “The transformation has been astonishing. There were some divided opinions to start with on the restoration project because the church was much loved the way it was. But there are hardly any doubters now, with a number of events, including a hugely-successful concert, opening the building up to the whole community.

“Treske’s furniture in the Heritage Room, featuring a cupboard with hidden map hanging compartment, modified altar turned into archive storage and display cabinet using ‘old’ timber from choir robe store, have been commented on most favourably by visitors.

“The restoration, which is on-going dependent on funds, has been a resounding success, thanks mainly to the expertise and commitment of our architect, Brian Foxley, our builders, Aura Conservation and the suppliers of our church furniture, Treske. Together they have done an absolutely magnificent job,” he added.

Treske is now the leading manufacturer and supplier of church furniture in the country, having undertaken ecclesiastical projects for high-profile churches across the UK, including Ripon Cathedral; St George’s Chapel, Windsor; and St Martin-in-the-Fields in central London.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Robert Beaumont .