 In 1876 , Morris visited Burford Church in Oxfordshire , where he was appalled at the restoration conducted by his old mentor , G.E. Street . He recognised that these programs of architectural restoration led to the destruction or major alteration of genuinely old features in order to replace them with " sham old " features , something which appalled him . To combat the increasing trend for restoration , in March 1877 he founded the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings ( SPAB ) , which he personally referred to as " Anti @-@ Scrape " . Adopting the role of honorary secretary and treasurer , most of the other early members of SPAB were his friends , while the group 's program was rooted in Ruskin 's The Seven Lamps of Architecture ( 1849 ) . As part of SPAB 's campaign , Morris tried to build connections with art and antiquarian societies and the custodians of old buildings , and also contacted the press to highlight his cause . He was particularly strong in denouncing the ongoing restoration of Tewkesbury Abbey and was vociferous in denouncing the architects responsible , something that deeply upset Street . Turning SPAB 's attention abroad , in Autumn 1879 Morris launched a campaign to protect St Mark 's Basilica in Venice from restoration , garnering a petition with 2000 signatures , among whom were Disraeli , Gladstone , and Ruskin . 
