St Mary’s Church Whaplode lodges planning application to South Holland District Council to fix 115 year-old roof

A church’s lead roof that is nearly 115 years old will need to be replaced fully to stop it leaking and deter future thefts.

Decades of rainwater have damaged the south aisle roof on St Mary’s Church, Whaplode and the Parochial Church Council has submitted a planning application and Heritage Impact Assessment to South Holland District Council.

The church will be 900 years old this year and due to its condition it is intended to be replaced completely with Terne Coated Stainless (TCS) steel as the lead covering has ‘clearly reached its end of life’.

CCTV cameras were installed several years ago following lead being stolen from the church’s North Porch

The 12th century Grade I listed building has two inside areas covered in plastic sheeting, held in place by bricks. The planning application notes that ‘almost all of the lead sheets show various degrees of slippage’

The lead roof covering the South Aisle was recast and re-laid in 1910. The proposal aims to ‘ensure that the roof becomes fully weatherproof, remove the constant problems of water ingress affecting the underlying timbers and will also greatly reduce any future risk of theft.’

After severe water ingress, a problematic area was opened up in 2012 revealing substantial damage to the principal supporting beam beneath.

The core had rotted from the top and the beam required major repairs including the installation of a stainless steel flitch plate.

Proposed works would involve ‘removing the lead sheeting, guttering and flashings, examine the underlying timber sarking boards and any suspect elements of the supporting structure.’

After several years of weathering TCS steel appears much like lead in colour and many applications have been approved by Lincoln Diocese.

Visit here for further information.

Find out about planning applications that affect you at the Public Notice Portal

What do you think? Post your comments below.