A quantity of lead has been stolen from the roof of St Philip & St James Church.
The theft was only discovered when the first shower of rain that we have seen for three weeks came straight through the roof on Friday, 13th July, and into the clergy vestry.
Thinking that there might be a crack in the roof, the vicar and the churchwarden went to investigate and found that almost all the lead had been taken from the roof. A temporary cover to protect the vestry, which was built in the middle of the nineteenth century, has been put in place.
Rev'd Robin Pye said "We are insured, so the bulk of the cost of replacing the roof is covered, but with excesses and maximums we will probably have to find £2,000 ourselves as a church. Our budget aims to break even and we are working hard to do that so an unexpected challenge like this is an additional burden we could do without. We think the thieves will have made around £400 for their night's work."
The church is hoping to get permission from Chester Diocese to replace the lead with a non-lead substitute in the hope that should the thieves return they will be disappointed.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
The sooner we start chopping hands off for thieves, the easier we sleep at night.
(No doubt that comment will stir the sandal-wearing tree-hugging social-doo-gooder Lefties who may suggest the thieves should be forgiven and given money so they don't do it again)
Fundraising?
I think they have it covered.
Do you mean Jesus in the Bible?