Like other buildings in our team, St James church was built in the Victorian era and is now showing its age. It’s a Grade II listed building , which makes repairs expensive. We have been running an appeal and our target is £100,000, but at the moment costs are increasing at a faster pace than we can raise money!

The PCC decided to tackle the high level external work in bite size chunk’s instead. Our priority is to make the chancel area water tight. The “bell fletch,” (which is the brickwork that houses the bells) has developed a gap where it meets the chancel roof. This is allowing water into the chancel around the altar. The interior plaster work is damaged by water and damp. The guttering that drains the water off the roof needs attention too, but whether the money will stretch that far we will have to wait and see.

An inspection has revealed that the iron and wooden structure supporting the bells needs attention. There is an option to take the bells down and leave them down until we can afford this repair (£6000), but I fear that if they come down, they will never go back up! So our aim is to raise money, and get this work done. It would be good to hear the bells ring at the weddings we have - and other big events.

A rough estimate of the chancel area work and the bells is £35,000. With the fundraising, some grants and the support of villagers and congregation we have £21,000. So nearly there. A final “push” would mean we could aim to start the work in 2025. If you value your village church we would appreciate any donation you can make; to keep the church in a good state of repair. You could give direct to us online at stewardship.org.uk/partners/20303890 

 Janet Stubbs (Church Warden)

Thank you!