St Andrew’s Church in Wimpole, Cambridgeshire, is moving ahead with another round of repairs after water ingress damaged interior finishes and raised safety concerns.
The Grade II listed village church, owned by the Diocese of Ely, has already spent £14,000 addressing water damage and deteriorating masonry. The church applied to South Cambridgeshire District Council’s community chest for an additional £2,000 to continue the project, and the council approved the request. The authority said the funding supports the continued use of a well-used community facility and heritage site so it stays accessible for residents, visitors, and researchers.
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, water getting into the building caused staining and damaged plaster, and it led to falling debris. The church’s next scope of work includes restoring two monuments at a cost of £3,719, plus roof and masonry work priced at £11,234.
For mason contractors working on historic buildings, this project is a reminder that water management and life safety sit at the center of preservation work. When roof leaks reach plaster and masonry, deterioration speeds up, and loose material can become a public hazard in an active community space.
The church said it plans to cover the remaining costs through fundraising activities, existing reserves, private donations, and applications to external funders. It has submitted applications to the Cambridgeshire Historic Churches Trust and The National Heritage Lottery Fund, and it has secured a £1,000 private donation.
Read the full, original article from BBC here.