Issue 47 JUNE - Flipbook - Page 52
Holy Cross Church
Nestled on the outskirts of Axminster, Devon stands Holy Cross Church, a cherished building dating
back to 1883. Following extensive work on its exterior to repair its stone and lime mortar foundations,
a breathable paint solution internally was essential to complete the project. Thanks to Earthborn’s
highly breathable Claypaint, the restorative work at Holy Cross Church is complete, and its doors are
now open each Sunday welcoming everybody once more.
Built on land donated by Lady Emma Tulloch of Old Park,
Holy Cross Church is over 150 years old and constructed
with materials that were readily available at the time such
as stone and lime. After years of exposure to the British
weather, Holy Cross Church, much like many older buildings, began to reveal signs of trouble. Excess moisture led
to unsightly damp patches and peeling paint, indicating
that the structure needed attention. Following remedial
work on the exterior, the building was able to breathe
once more, which revealed issues with the existing paint.
Fraser Russell, Church Warden said “We replaced a lot of
the outside concrete mortar between the stonework with
lime mortar and the paint began peeling in those areas as
the walls started to breathe and release the trapped water.
This left the interior looking rather tatty with patches of
damp staining and bubbling paint, which is why we were
keen to use a very breathable paint.” After lots of research
into breathable paint, Fraser decided on Earthborn
Claypaint and found it “ticked all the boxes.”
Highlighting an aesthetic need for Claypaint too, he
continues, “The interior had not been painted in over 15
years, so the appearance was very inconsistent. After the
repair work was completed, it was the perfect time for a
fresh lick of paint”. Choosing colour Posset - a neutral
with subtle yellow undertones, Fraser wanted to pay
homage to the original interior colour. “The church was
previously painted in cream which we liked. Posset was a
brighter and warmer shade that was the perfect choice”.
