YSP Media is proud to announce the completion of a series of short films commissioned by St Matthew’s Church as part of the ongoing conservation project Tending the Future, generously funded by The Heritage Lottery Fund.

Over a period of six months, YSP Media creative director Chris Bevan has worked closely with the church and its community to produce a series of five short films capturing the rich history, craftsmanship and legacy of this remarkable medieval church in Morley, Derbyshire.

Repair of the stained glass windows in progress at Jim Budd’s workshop in mid-Wales

The central pillar of this project has been the intricate restoration of St Matthew’s historic medieval stained glass. One of the key films produced through this commission features insight from expert conservator Jim Budd and documents the removal, repair and preservation of the delicate collection of windows situated in the church, some of which date back to the 14th Century. In addition to filming the careful process of removing the glass at the church, a visit to Jim’s workshop in mid-Wales provided an opportunity to view the techniques use to protect and restore the glass.

We also had the opportunity to work closely with local artist Karen Slade to highlight the traditional process of creating medieval tiles as well as the unique hidden meaning behind the butterfly patterned tile which is prominently featured. A new guided video tour offers viewers a look inside St Matthew’s Church to encourage viewers to visit and learn more about this fascinating historical location. In addition to exploring the unique architecture and present day role of the church within the local community, we also had the opportunity to develop a reflective piece on the past, present, and future of the church. A particular highlight of this film was a visit to the Derbyshire Record Office to film the Book of Hours, a beautifully illustrated book dating back several hundred years with important links to the original benefactors of the church.

We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported and contributed to the making of these films, from the dedicated volunteers and church community to the skilled craftspeople and archivists who generously shared their knowledge and passion, and those who helped deliver Tending the Future. YSP Media has a deep and continuing interest in working on heritage-based film projects, and the opportunity to tell some of the stories behind historic sites, traditional skills, and community memories is something we value greatly. Projects such as Tending the Future and The Heritage Lottery Fund allow filmmakers to bring history to life through film, improving engagement and preserving these important places and stories for future generations.

In addition to being released online, all of the films produced will be available on an interactive touch screen within St. Matthew’s Church for visitors. To learn more about Tending the Future, you can visit St Matthew’s website here or take a look at some of the films on their Youtube channel. We have also featured a selection of the films over on our Documentary and Community Portfolio.