The replica tympanum arrived at Parwich Church today and was fitted to the wall inside the tower. The original carved stone is deteriorating significantly, but English Heritage felt the risk of moving it was too great. In order to create a permanent record before the carving disappeared completely this replica was made.
It was debated whether the replica should be an exact copy or enhanced to look more as it would when first made. English Heritage and the Diocese looked more favourably on having an exact copy as it is now, and the decision was then cinched by the fact that an enhanced carving would be considerably more expensive.
The moment of danger came when the stone was released from the hoist, but before the top bracket was put in place to prevent it toppling over. Fortunately the van was able to return to Liverpool with all the men from Conservation Technologies intact, and satisfied with a job well done.
A display board explaining this project and the meaning of the symbols on the stone, should be arriving at the end of next week. There will also soon be a leaflet on the dating of the stone available in the Church. The replica tympanum will be dedicated along with the new window on Sunday 6th July by the Bishop of Repton at the end of the Flower Festival.
It is fitting that the Bishop of Repton should conduct this service, not only because there was no diocese of Derby when the original stone was carved, but also because Repton was the main church of the first Anglo-Saxon Bishops of Mercia, which included our area.
Clearer drawings of the animals can be seen at and down loaded from our colouring-in post. Children (or the young at heart) do consider having a go at colouring them in to help decorate the Church for the Flower Festival.
To see access detailed information about the history of Parwich tympanum please go to St. Peter’s Church web-pages.
PARWICH.ORG 
After some thirty years of attempts to resolve the tympanum problem, the culmination happens when I am away for a couple of days .. but what a wonderful account of such a gratifying occasion. The replica looks splendid – what a relief that they didn’t drop it!