Over £100,000 is likely to be needed to make safe and improve a church tower in Newchurch, which has deteriorated so much that the church’s bells have fallen silent.
It was back in February this year that Storm Eunice caused damage to a weathervane at the top of the All Saints’ Church tower, which can be seen for miles around. Its distinctive white colour and pattern stand out on the horizon.
Although the weathervane has now been fixed, recent inspections have highlighted other, more serious issues with the iconic Norman church.
It has been deemed that the tower is unstable and needs urgent repairs. As a result, the bells have not been ringing out in the village.
It is hoped that local fundraising will cover the £40,000 initial cost to make the structure safe, with further funds then likely to be sought through grants to improve the tower – with the whole project likely to cost in excess of £100,000.
Friends of All Saints launched an appeal for funds on 1st November. Anyone wanting to help preserve the much-used part of the historic church are asked to contact Gill Rouse on 01983 864842 or Clive Allen on 01983 401084.
Let the church authorities pay – they are rolling in it – Church of England, Catholic Church whoever is responsible for it.
Inclined to agree. The C of E own a huge amount of land the sale of a few acres in the right place would easily pay for this (I don’t normally agree with selling off the ‘family silver’ but there are some cases, like this, where it could be justified)
I expect if it were a Mosque, then grants, interest free loans would be offered by the gullible falling over themselves trying to ‘appease’ and show how tolerant, well to do, and caring we all are in the UK to outsiders.
But that kindness, is seen as being gullible, that tolerance is seen as weakness, and that perceived wealth is soon gone in funding those who we should never fund to be here.
Would be an awful shame not to have this repaired, and just ‘one’ dingy full being returned would pay for a cheap wooden steeple.
I know which I and most honest, sensible people would prefer even if never setting foot in that cute little church ever again.
Perhaps, now that many of the worlds poor have decided to come ‘direct to the source’ of free food and medical aid, the Church of England could now drastically cut back on ‘overseas aid’ projects and use the saving to repair Churches in this country.
I think in the current climate £100000 could be put to better use than fixing church bells.
plenty of rich silver surfers in that part of the world, I’m sure they’ll rally round!
If Fred Dibnah was still with us, he would have popped down from oop north and have it sorted the same day.
Il huff and il puff and il blow your house down.