A FUNDRAISING appeal has been launched to raise £120,000 needed to repair the nave roof of a church in Winston.
Rot was uncovered in the roof of St Andrew’s Church during the last inspection by the Church of England. This led to the church being deemed to be “at risk” by English Heritage.
Churchwarden Joyce Wilson said: “It was identified that we had to replace the chancel roof and the nave roof.
“We did the chancel roof first. No one had realised how bad it was until then. That was completed about three years ago and the money took a lot of raising.”
The chancel roof cost £190,000 to replace. Fundraising efforts gathered £45,000 towards the bill.
Ms Wilson said: “Now we need to do the nave roof. We do not believe there is the rot in this that there was in the chancel roof.
“The tiles were last done in 1848 when the Victorians altered this church. They are dislodged now and the nails are wearing. It is allowing the ingress of water into the walls.”
Fundraising has now started to raise the £120,000 needed to complete the remainder of the work. Grant applications are being made but 50 per cent of the cost must be raised before any funding will be granted.
A recent three-mile walk around Winston and a barbecue raised £1,500. This was the first in a series of events being organised to help reach the target.
Little Newsham’s private chapel will be opening its doors on Sunday, June 24, to offer visitors an insight into its history from noon to 5pm.
The village blacksmith will also be open for visitors as well as the cheesery. Tickets cost £4.50 on the day.
On Friday, July 6, a garden party is being held at 4 Church Mews in Winston. Cream teas, wine and refreshments will be on offer from 5.30pm till 8pm.
Later in the month, on July 22, all are welcome to Alwent Hall for vintage teas, vintage cars and a tombola.
The event will run from noon to 5pm.
Picnics are also being held at Hallow Hall, in Winston, on Sunday, August 26.
The final event this year will be a Christmas tree festival in the church on December 7.
Weekly Sunday morning services are held at St Andrew’s and attract a following of 21 worshippers. The church also hosts weddings, christenings and funerals.
It costs £1,200 each month to keep the doors open.
Ms Wilson said: “We are a reasonably vibrant church. It is well used. We rely on donations.”
Churchwarden Christine Barnett added: “If you don’t maintain it, it puts it in a state of disrepair. It would then not be safe for people to come in.”
Ideally, the work on the nave roof needs to be started in 2020.
Ms Wilson said: “We will need to be in a position before the next quinquennial inspection, towards the end of next year, to say let’s get the work done.
“We are looking at different ways of raising the money.
“We are trying to look at how we can get people into the area and to explore it as well as visit the church.”
