This exclusive members’ lecture will begin with stonemason and author Andrew Ziminski, who will reveal how to "read" a church — visually peeling back the layers of history in even the most complex buildings, such as St James’. He will offer insight into the craftswork, evolution, and hidden stories embedded in its fabric.

We’ll then hear from wall painting conservator Ruth McNeilage, who will delve into the history, techniques, and current condition of the church’s striking wall paintings that tell a changing story of how the building was decorated and used from the late 12th century until the 18th century including the fascinating and unusual painting of a jester/fool at the east end of the north wall. She will finally discuss the challenges and approaches of the conservation programme.

Andrew Ziminski FSA is a Director of Minerva Building Conservation and the author of The Stonemason: A History of Building Britain and Church Going: A Stonemason's Guide to the Churches of the British Isles. Andrew looks after the maintenance needs of CCT’s Somerset estate.

Ruth McNeilage is a Partner at McNeilage Conservation and a specialist in the conservation of wall paintings and decorative polychrome. She is an accredited conservator and has been conserving wall paintings in churches, cathedrals and historic buildings in the UK for forty years. She was the secretary on the ICON stone and wall painting committee for several years and worked for ICCROM, running conservation courses in Italy and Romania.

The Churches Conservation Trust is currently raising funds to safeguard the future of these precious artworks. Water ingress has caused cracked plaster and other deterioration, and urgent donations are needed for delicate, specialist conservation work. Find out more about the project and how you can support it here: https://www.visitchurches.org.uk/get-involved/cameleywallpainting