Dorchester Abbey differs from other village churches: it is huge, a virtual cathedral, rivalling Christ Church, Oxford, in size and capacity, and it is also the largest public building in South Oxfordshire. Its size, history and architecture make the Abbey a place of national importance: a spiritual centre for people of any faith or none, an educational resource for young and old, a venue for music and the arts, a place which people from anywhere in the world just enjoy visiting a focal point for the region. Such a wonderful building deserves to be cared for and made accessible to as many people as possible for a wide variety of uses.
However, like all old buildings, the Abbey is in constant need of conservation and repair, a heavy financial burden for a small community. In the 19th century a 30-year restoration programme was initiated by the Oxford Architectural Society: extensive works were carried out by a succession of architects, James Cranston, William Butterfield and George Gilbert Scott. In 1959 the Association of Friends of Dorchester Abbey was formed, and in the 1960s Edith Stedman, an American who spent much of her time in Dorchester, established the American Friends of the Abbey (now dissolved) who paid for the restoration of the East Window and other works. The need for further works led in 1978 to the formation of the Dorchester Abbey Preservation Trust (Registered Charity no. 275819) to establish and manage a Trust Fund to be used for the restoration and repair of the fabric and fittings of the Abbey. More essential repairs were dealt with in the 1980s and 1990s.
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