About the project

St Mary the Virgin, East Bergholt is a Grade I listed medieval church in the Suffolk village where the painter John Constable grew up. It is unusual in that the tower was not finished. It has the heaviest bells still rung in England, housed in a separately listed bell cage in the churchyard.

Securing the future of St Mary the Virgin, East Bergholt is a major conservation and engagement project to undertake work to the roof, re-ordering and improvements to the visitor experience. An award was made by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in October 2024.

The consultancy's role

Alix Slater Consultancy & Training was the Interpretation and Activity Planner for the project. The consultancy undertook extensive consultation in the community, building a plan that involves primary and secondary school pupils in the village, families, and older and new residents. This complements the interpretation, which is more focused on tourists who visit the church when exploring Constable's Country.