Jean Prosser MBE
Revd Dr Jean Prosser, Priest-in-Charge of the Grosmont Group, received an MBE in the New Year 2010 Honours List for services to conservation and the community in Monmouthshire.
Jean writes: I first became involved with conservation of vernacular buildings during the restoration of Llangattock Lingoed church in 2003. Two farmers asked for help in saving their listed buildings and I knew there was money available from Europe to help areas devastated by Foot and Mouth Disease.
A group of friends set up the Village Alive Trust as a buildings preservation charity and successfully bid for £50,000 to help revive the rural economy in this bit of Monmouthshire. The project restored a Well House at Cross Ash and a Cider House at Llangattock Lingoed, collected oral memories of lost ways of working, particularly on the farms, and held events to tell the stories of the buildings.
In five years, with funding from Cadw, Monmouthshire County Council and the Welsh Assembly Government, the Trust has restored or conserved another three buildings including a large medieval barn and several smaller sites; inaugurated the Monmouthshire Building Conservation Awards; held a major conference for listed building owners and heritage professionals; and developed village trails linking its restored sites.
Working with the Village Alive Trust is a marvellous hobby, which enriches parish work by working with farmers, council officials and local politicians, schools, heritage and conservation specialists. The challenges cement friendships through fun and hard work. I have learned much about building techniques and materials, farming practices and way of life, liturgical uses of churches and, most important, their place in the fabric of community life. I have learned that every church is an iconic building for those whose significant and life-changing events take place in them. Their symbolism, continuity and presence are deeply felt and draw people together across many boundaries.
The award was a shock and I have been overwhelmed with good wishes. It seems that people from all the parishes were in on my nomination, and as always with such things, many people actually earned the award.