The John Griff Column: Helping an old friend to stand the tests of time…

It sits at the very heart of the county town having risen from its own ashes after the disastrous fire of 1675 that all but wiped Northampton off the face of the earth. It remains the parish church of the county town, the church of local government and a place that draws worshippers throughout the Christian year. It brings crowds together in November to commemorate the lives of the fallen – and it brings tourists who come through its doors to marvel at its interior, the stories that can tell and the spectacles that it continues to host in this, the 21st century.

All Saints’ Church has been a friend to thousands over the years and a place of peace during the day – or night. But as is the case with so many public and civic buildings, the fabric of the church on Wood Hill is in constant need of maintenance. Daily wear and tear from services, visits, the weather and time have left their marks on the building and its many assets. All Saints’ needs are many and whilst much has been carried out in recent years, much more needs to be done – and pressingly so. Time is against those who manage, preach, sing and visit what is, by anyone’s measure, an architectural jewel. And so a campaign is being mounted to bring All Saints up to date and up to standard.

Works including repairs, renovation, and redecoration of the building, as well as a full service and rebuild of its Chancel based organ are planned – bringing with them a price tag (perhaps conservatively) of around half a million pounds. It is a huge amount of money to raise but an amount that, step by step, those taking on Northampton’s Forth Bridge parallel of work are now dedicating themselves to.

Last weekend, Father Oliver Coss was able to tell his parishioners and congregations that the fundraising campaign is being supported by a special event, turning All Saints briefly into a place more akin to a studio theatre than a church. It will be aiming to inform, entertain and raise funds through hosting a conversation with someone who has her own connection to the church, even though she didn’t initially know she had one. Millions know her as a former model, Bond girl, TV actress, international politician, documentary-maker and activist. Late in the afternoon of the 17th of October, they’ll be able to join Dame Joanna Lumley as she talks about her life and a lot more – and in the process effectively campaigns for All Saints.

Joanna will be coming to the church to take part in an hour-long conversation event. She’s already indicated that nothing is off the table – which slightly unnerves me, because I’m the one she’s going to be having the conversation with, in front of a ticketed audience. Like many, I grew up watching her in her first TV role as Purdey (a name that Joanna herself suggested) in ‘The New Avengers’. The show lasted just two years, but its impact lasted much longer, as did Joanna’s career which went from strength to strength and incorporated so many different roles and applications that if we were to address them all on the day, we’d need a month to do them justice. Add in Patsy from the seminal ‘Absolutely Fabulous’ which made the crossover from the smaller to the larger screen and you start to see a tiny part of a much bigger picture which was augmented by Joanna’s passionate support for the work of Survival International and the Gurkha Justice Campaign to name but two. Undoubtedly we’ll touch on this – but I want to ask more in the time I’ve got available to me. The challenge is what to leave out and what to include – but it is a fascinating one that I’m really looking forward to. There won’t be much Bolly in evidence though…

Tickets for the event went on sale on the TryBooking website last weekend – options are available. Unlike many, Joanna Lumley has made herself available without seeking a fee, aiming to help All Saints raise as much as it can, as quickly as it can. Time waits for nobody and certainly not historic public buildings. You might like to join us.

And her connection to All Saints? It’s a mystery to many – but if you’re there you’ll find out!