ExxonMobil Fawley contribution will help to preserve church porch

The porch at All Saints’ Church, Fawley, needs attention and the £2,000 contribution from its closest neighbour will go a long way to helping pay for the repairs. The Venerable Caroline Baston, Interim Priest in Charge for the parish of Fawley, said: “The porch was a Victorian addition to the church, but unfortunately it is leaking water. Some of the guttering also needs repairing because when it rains it creates a waterfall down the wall.”

The porch protects some very beautiful “dogs’ tooth” engraving around the original Norman west door of the church, and the repairs are crucial to preserving this historical feature. Caroline said: “We are very grateful for the donation of £2,000 towards the cost of the work, it will go a long way to helping us make the porch watertight again.”

Alison Jones, Community Affairs Manager at ExxonMobil Fawley, said: “The church is our closest neighbour and has been since the refinery was built in 1951. All Saints’ is not just an important community asset, it has enormous historical value going back more than 800 years. We are pleased that our donation towards the porch roof repairs will help to protect that history for many more years to come.”

Facts about All Saints’ Church

• The current building dates from the 12th century and appears to have been built over two periods, 1170-1210 and 1300-1340. The village of Fawley and a church are mentioned in the Domesday Book.
• There is reference to an earlier church having stood on the site as early as 971, and it is possible that some parts were reused in the current building.
• The oldest part of the church is St Nicholas’ Chapel. The church may have originally been dedicated to St Nicholas, the patron saint of seafarers. The church was the last that sailors would have seen as they left Southampton Water.
• The church was bombed in 1940 during the Second World War and was severely damaged, losing all of its medieval stained glass. It wasn't until 1954 that the church was repaired and reconsecrated.
• All Saints’ original bells were cast in the early 1600s. In 1909, two extra bells were added to the original four. They are rung before services on Sundays and on special occasions such as weddings and christenings.

Notes for editors:

• ExxonMobil at Fawley is the collective name given to Esso Petroleum Company Limited and ExxonMobil Chemical Limited which are part of Exxon Mobil Corporation.
• The Fawley refinery is the largest in the UK. Approximately one in six cars in the UK operates on fuel produced at Fawley.
• Over the past six years, ExxonMobil at Fawley has contributed in excess of £1m in community support.

For more information, contact Alison Jones, Community Affairs Manager, ExxonMobil Fawley. Telephone: (023) 8089 6799. Email: alison.j.jones@exxonmobil.com