PARISHIONERS in Whitnash are being urged to help ensure vitally needed repairs at St Margaret’s Church can go ahead.
Church leaders have just secured an £82,000 for urgent roof repairs and other works but have to raise over £11,000 by Christmas to trigger the government grant.
Church treasurer William Clemmey said: “We are delighted that we have received this grant offer to help repair our church and tower roofs.
“We hope that Whitnash residents will join with the congregation to raise the remaining £11,694 before Christmas in order for us to be able to draw down this £82,400 grant which is vital to helping us repair our historic church in Whitnash.
The grant – from the government-funded Listed Places of Worship: Roof Repair Fund – will enable the tower roof of teh grade II-listed church to be renewed to prevent damage to the roof structure and bell frame below.
Work will also be done to rebuild the tower parapets which have become loose with heavily weathered pointing. The slipped tiles on the church roof will be fixed and replaced, and roof gutters cleared and repaired.
Other work will include extensive repointing, and filling in of cracks throughout the tower, and below ground roof water drainage will be improved.
In order to receive the grant the congregation had to raise over £20,000 towards the cost – and Rector Rev Richard Suffern played his part by undertaking a sponsored three peaks challenge – and so far just over £8,000 has been raised.
St Margaret’s is built on Norman foundations. Except for the late 15th century west tower, the church was rebuilt by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott in the 19th century.
Visit www.stmargs-wgcc.org.uk for further details.
