A CHURCH is undergoing a conservation project of mammoth proportions.

Baroque Great Witley Church, near Worcester, is home to what is believed to be one of the tallest funerary monuments in the country.

The marble memorial stands more than eight metres (26ft) tall and depicts figures of Thomas Foley and his wife Mary – the first Lord and Lady Foley who bought the church in 1655 – sat on a pedestal surrounded by five of their seven children.

It dates back to 1737, but now nearly 300 years of candle and oil fumes have taken their toll and left the marble looking dirty and in serious need of cleaning.

A specialist conservation team from Mareva Conservation, led by Veronika Vlkova, have been given the task of carefully restoring the monument to its full glory.

Scaffolding has been erected right to the top of the memorial and it is expected that the huge project will take around seven weeks to complete. As well as removing the years of dirt, the entire monument will be polished and the lettering will be restored.

The piece itself was designed and carved by Michael Rysbrack, who also carved the monuments to the Duke of Marlborough at Blenheim Palace and Isaac Newton in Westminster Abbey.

During the restoration the church, which attracts visitors from all over the world, will be open as normal.

Newly appointed church warden, Angela Snow said: “We have around 35,000 visitors a year to see the church. It’s the best church in the country.”

For more information about Great Witley Parish Church, visit greatwitleychurch.org.uk.