TOP officers from the Diocese of Durham visited Middleton-in-Teesdale’s medieval church last week to see first-hand the devastating impact dry rot has had on its ancient floor.
The interior of St Mary’s Church has upended pews, gaping inspection chambers in the floor and patches of missing plaster from the walls.
Parishioners had hoped to return to a newly renovated church this autumn, complete with new lighting to showcase its majestic features.
Instead the church is to remain closed for the foreseeable future and planned events, such as a Remembrance Sunday service, have been moved elsewhere.
Worshippers are now attending services at Eggleston and Forest-in-Teesdale, while others are being accommodated by the Pathways Methodist Church.
It was when contractor Mark Tulley was testing the strength of the floor to hold scaffolding as part of the renovations that the dry rot was discovered this summer. The scaffolding was needed for plastering work and to install the new lighting.
Following the discovery, inspection chambers were created across the length of the church showing the dry rot had spread extensively.
Vicar Revd Alison Wallbank said: “Our architect wanted the pews upended to see if they had been infected and they have.
“Five pews, potentially more, have been condemned. They will have to be burned with all this wood. It will be quite a bonfire.”
Many of the joists have rotted away, leaving much of the floor in danger of collapsing, particularly in an area where the organist sits.
Mrs Wallbank said a number of patch repairs over the years had contributed to the problem by cutting off ventilation.
She said: “We have to remove the floor, the sub-floor and the soil under there needs to be treated to sanitise it. Every bit of wood has to be burned. If you don’t get the infection out, it will come back.”
Mr Tulley added: “When it gets hold that is it. It will destroy everything.”
The diocese’s buildings for mission secretary, Daniel Spraggon, and diocesan advisory committee chairwoman Sandra Robertson visited the church after being invited by Mrs Wallbank to see the extent of the damage and to offer advice.
Mr Spraggon said: “The parish has responded quickly to get the professional advice they need.”
He added that the church was fortunate to have expert advice from conservation accredited architect John Barnes. Mrs Wallbank said the initial estimate to remove the dry rot and repair the damaged floor is about £50,000.
Mr Spraggon said: “With the remedial work and final restoration the cost can be quite substantial.”
Anyone who can help in anyway is urged to email Mrs Wallbank at [email protected].
