Worshippers have been fundraising for the past five years to carry out restoration work at Barnard Castle Methodist Church. So far, £80,000 has been spent on the 19th century building which has seen external roof repairs completed as well as external pointing on the spire.
However, water damage has started to show internally and a routine inspection has now ruled that structural work on the spire must be carried out next.
Church minister Revd Bev Hollings said: “We have spent about £80,000 already. That has all been done over the last five years.
“The current target for the spire, including redoing the clock, is £30,000. At the moment we have secured £22,000.”
The recent total for the spire fund was given a boost by three Teesdale county councillors.
Cllrs Richard Bell and Ted Henderson each gave £2,500 and Cllr George Richardson gave £5,000. The money was allocated through Teesdale Action Partnership and the councillors’ neighbourhood budgets.
The church has also received £10,000 from Barnard Castle Methodist Circuit, £1,000 from the Alan Evans Memorial Trust, £500 from the Barbour Foundation and £145 raised at a Barnard Castle Brass Band concert.
Ms Hollings said: “The money will be used to replace the lead work within the spire and the metal work that is holding it up.
“The metal work has been in since it was built 124 years ago.
“As with many Victorian towers of that time, the metal work is now corroding. The water damage means we don’t use that staircase. It is also causing damage to internal plasterwork.
“This will be the final piece of work to make the upper level completely water tight.
“If the work wasn’t done, the spire wouldn’t fall down imminently but it would eventually fall.”
The county councillors were all glad they could help the church reach its fundraising target.
Cllr Bell said: “When they applied the county councillors were impressed by the amount of community outreach done from the church and thought it worthy of support.
“The Methodist church is the major landmark as you come down Galgate and it’s important to keep the spire safe and sound.”
Cllr Henderson said: “We gave the funding for the repairs to the church partly because it is one of only three churches in Barnard Castle and also will, in the near future, be one of the only Methodist churches in the dale.
“The one in Eggleston is closing in the early part of this year which follows the closing of the one in Newbiggin.
“The church is not just a church but also used for many other activities therefore is a vital link to the residents of not just Barnard Castle but to the dale as a whole.”
Cllr Richardson added: “Raising money for anything is a difficult job and I do know that churches which are trying to raise money struggle.
“It is vitally important that the work is carried out.
“We see more and more people coming to church for funerals and weddings.
“The church needs to be sustained in order for people to do this.”
The church has about 90 members but it is also used as a meeting point for 12 community groups.
These include indoor bowls, Singing for the Brain dementia sessions and a coffee morning.
Ms Hollings said: “It is a landmark in the town. It is not just myself, I am sure, who wants to see it maintained.
“This should sustain it or another 125 years.
“We are incredibly grateful for everyone’s support.
“The money from the county councillors was a huge boost. It is good to know that they still value the landmark in the town.”
Treasurer of the church Wendy Charlton added: “It is fantastic that the councillors have given us some money to help a local building so that we can still use it.
“It has saved us the nightmare of finding ways to fundraise and get the money.”
It is hoped that work on the spire will begin once the remaining £8,000 has been raised.
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