Parish digs deep to repair roof

5:00pm Thursday 4th September 2008

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CHURCHGOERS in Almondsbury are digging deep to help preserve their 800-year-old parish church.

St Mary’s Church has just launched a £150,000 fundraising appeal to pay for repair work desperately needed to the church’s roof.

Sunday worship at the church had become a soggy affair after rain started leaking through the roof onto the congregation.

Rev Philip Rowe, vicar at St Mary’s Church, said: "We had water coming in through the roof right into the church the winter before last. We had temporary repair work done in the autumn of last year, which should two years but this means we need to do permanent repair work in spring next year."

St Mary’s Church in Almondsbury was built in the 12 century, but little remains of the original building because of various structural changes during the last 800 years.

The existing roof, which is now causing problems, was built in the 1830s, with some limited repair work completed late last century.

The church estimates the work needed doing this time around, which includes re-leading the gutters and repairing masonry and stonework, will cost £150,000.

Mr Rowe said: "We want to use lead but at the moment we don’t think we can because it’s not insurable so we will have to use a more modern substance which should last a long time.

"We are hoping to raise some of the money by fundraising ourselves through events, as well as asking for donations and approaching bodies for grants."

So far the church has raised £11,000 through events such as cream teas and a hog roast but more fundraising events are planned for later in the year.

Mr Rowe said: "As a building it is important because of it’s heritage value to the village, also from the point of view of the community it is where people worship and go to events, it also symbolises Christian values and reminds people of those values."

For more information about St Mary’s Church and its fundraising appeal visit, www.alomndsburychurch.org.uk The church’s next fundraising event will be a craft fair to be held at the Old School Hall, Lower Almondsbury, on Saturday, September 20 (10am-4pm).