THE future of an upper dale church building has been secured for at least the next 150 years after vital repairs were completed.
St Mary’s Church, in Middleton-in-Teesdale, has undergone £79,000 worth of repair work.
The walls of the Victorian church had began to crack as a result of the building’s failing roof structure. Damp was coming in through the walls and causing the plaster to peel off and fall onto the pews. The original cast iron guttering could no longer cope and a downspout had collapsed. Water was also coming dangerously close to the electricity supply.
It was feared that the church would suffer if it was left to brave the elements for one more winter. Enough money was gathered together to fund the project which started at the end of April and finished at the end of July.
Downspouts and 310 feet of gutters were replaced.
The east wall was repointed where water was getting in and some of the lead had to be replaced too.
Revd Alison Wallbank said: “The church is built with sandstone and it is so porous.
Every time it rained we had the same problem. It was not just one side of the church. It was everywhere.
“We just thought another winter and this stone would be soaked. We had to get the work done. We decided we could not wait another winter and that if we did not do something, this church would have to close.
“Everything that was letting water in has been made good. I feel we have secured its future for the next 150 years. We have made sure it is still standing.”
The church received almost £8,900 in donations as well as £1,400 which was fundraised locally. The church’s Heritage Lottery Fund application was unsuccessful but £37,000 worth of grants were received including £5,000 each from county councillors Richard Bell and Ted Henderson. A private interest free loan of £5,000 was taken out and a further £27,000 was used from the church’s reserves.
Ms Wallbank thanked everyone for their support.
She said: “It was tough finding the funding. We are now worn out and wiped out financially.
The builders have said it will take at least a year to dry out and it will look worse before it looks better. Once it is dry we can rub off the old plaster and make it look nice inside.”
The next phase of the work will focus on improving the church’s interior. There are plans to have water-damaged walls replastered as well as low energy lighting installed.
However, funds need to be rebuilt before any further work can commence.
Ms Wallbank said: “The church is in good condition on the outside now so next we need to do the inside. We are starting from scratch again and we have said we will start again in the new year.
“We still need to get more quotes for the lighting and to get permission from the diocese before we start chipping away at the plaster.”
