Huge campaign altar-ed church’s ‘at risk’ status
Holy building no longer on register of sites of concern
A church has been removed for a list of buildings deemed to be at risk after a concerted fundraising campaign by villagers. St Mary’s in Lenham is no longer on the Historic England Buildings At Risk Register. The church dates in part from the 12th century, but was largely rebuilt after a fire in 1297. It had developed some serious problems, notably a leak from the main roof and another from roof of the tower, but a prolonged effort by supporters over four years has at least secured the building - though there is still more to be done.
Andrew Barr, chairman of the Friends of St Mary’s said: “The church is inspected every five years. When the 2012 one showed the same serious flaws as had been reported five years previously, the village decided it was time to do something and formed the Friends of St Mary’s.”
A campaign attracted around £100,000 in donations, and the group also secured a grant of around £40,000 from Historic England. That has enabled both the roofs to be repaired, several windows to be repaired and the porch renovated.
There are two more windows to repair and all 14 of the buttresses that surround the church need attention to their stonework.
St Mary’s is one of the few churches which is open every day, from 9am to 4pm.
Mr Barr said: “Everything done so far has been to secure the building, but we haven’t even started on the interior.
The pews need repairing, there is decorating to do and plasterwork to be fixed. But at least we no longer have buckets in the nave to catch the rainwater.” Emily Gee, from Historic England, said: “Our heritage needs to be saved and investing in heritage helps transform places.”