Metal matters

sir – Historic England understands the trauma and cost of metal theft to local communities (Letters, August 22). We appreciate that places of worship are managed and funded by volunteers, and that dealing with the aftermath of theft can be very frustrating.

We advise that lead is the most appropriate roof covering. However, where it has been stolen from church buildings and like-for-like replacement would risk further criminal activity, we support the use of long-lasting alternative materials.

The preferred option is usually terne-coated stainless steel, since it is unattractive to thieves and, if fitted to the correct specification by skilled craftspeople, will enable the continued use of the building for decades. Our priority is the long-term health of the building and the ability of those who are responsible for it to maintain it with as little extra cost as possible. Duncan Mccallum

Strategy and Listing Director Historic England London EC4

sir – Peter Butterfield (Letters, August 22) asks who buys stolen lead, as dealers are “meant to be controlled”.

The problem is the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013: dealers have to record transactions but not ascertain the source. Less scrupulous dealers are thus able to turn a blind eye. Peter Saunders

Salisbury, Wiltshire

sir – I wonder how many people realise when they marvel at the beauty of St James’s Church in Piccadilly, built by Christopher Wren, that the clock-tower, spire and weather vane are all glass-fibre replicas built in 1968.

The church suffered bomb damage in 1940 and was mostly restored between 1947 and 1954, then the project ran out of funds. The 1686 steeple (not designed by Wren) was replaced with help from above when it was put in place by a helicopter. Nicholas Young

London W13