St Mary’s, in Middleton-in-Teesdale, has been unsuccessful in an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund last month. It was hoped that the grant would be received ahead of the winter so that work could begin on the £120,000 restoration job.
Officials at the church were informed that a change in categories had caused an influx of applications.
Revd Alison Wallbank said: “We were not unsuccessful because we were not worthy.
“We were told that there had been a last minute rush of applications as this was the last chance for listed places of worship to apply to this category of funding. The first part of our fundraising went towards the cost of applying. We were so hopeful.
“We have been advised to apply again as we have a strong application and meet their criteria. It was disappointing but there were too many listed places of worship and not enough money to go around.”
Another application will be made but that cannot be done until later this month. Therefore, the work will not be able to begin before winter sets in.
As a result, it is feared that the problems at the Victorian church are only going to get worse. The walls will continue to crack as the roof’s structure continues to fail.
Meanwhile damp is coming in through the walls and causing plaster to peel off and fall onto the pews. Water is also becoming seriously close to the electricity supply as it seeps in. The north side of the roof is covered in moss and part of the downspout has collapsed. The guttering can no longer cope and is now beyond clearing and repair.
Ms Wallbank said: “We fear another Teesdale winter will cause more water damage and add to our financial problems. The situation is bleak. If we don’t raise half of the cost of the work ourselves we won’t be able to go ahead even if we receive grant funding.”
A fundraising appeal was set up in the village to help raise £20,000 towards the work. Since 2016, £6,000 has been raised by villagers through events such as the flower festival. Help is currently being sought to pay for the replacement of 310 feet of cast iron guttering. People are being asked to donate a “fiver a foot.”
Ms Wallbank said: “The support has been brilliant. People have been really good.
“We have been encouraged by the local response to our fundraising campaign but will need a lot more funding before we can start the work to replace the gutters, downpipes and undertake roof repairs.”
To donate visit http://www.give.net/stmary
mint or text MINT00 £5 to 70070. People can also send donations to the church treasurer Joan Staley at 38 Hill Terrace, Middleton-in-Teesdale, DL12 OSL.
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