Urgent appeal launched after water leak causes short circuit at Shoreham church

Urgent repairs to stonework on a Shoreham church have begun after water damage caused a short circuit.
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St Mary’s Church, in the town centre, is more than 900 years old and heavy rain in October highlighted leaks, affecting the electrics, including some of the lights failing.

Scaffolding has gone up around the tower so work can begin to stop water getting in and an appeal to raise £15,000 towards the costs has been launched.

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The Rev Ann Waizeneker, vicar, said: “We are busily repairing damaged stonework to stop water ingression that has got into the fabric of the building.

An urgent appeal has been launched by St Mary's Church in Shoreham to help fund repair workAn urgent appeal has been launched by St Mary's Church in Shoreham to help fund repair work
An urgent appeal has been launched by St Mary's Church in Shoreham to help fund repair work

“Structural work has been essential. October was a very wet month in Sussex and our priority is to make the tower wind and rain proof, ready for the coming winter months.

“One noticeable consequence has been to the electrics and the lights failing in the entrance area of the church beneath the tower.

“The work underway is important to maintain St Mary’s as an ancient landmark but it is also important to Shoreham and the local community. Its location in the middle of the town means the outdoor space and the building serve us all throughout the year.

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“It’s unfortunate but the necessary repairs and the scaffolding are unavoidably expensive and this is a short appeal to the generosity of our community for any help they can afford to help us meet these costs.

“We are hoping to raise up to £15,000 through this appeal and this is approximately half the total expected cost. There is some good news in that we have secured a grant to pay for the other half.

“We fully appreciate that for everyone these are very uncertain times and to anyone able to help, we thank you in advance of any donation you make. It will be gratefully received and put to good work.”

Despite the current temporary lockdown, the church can be open daily for private prayer from 10am to 4pm, and the grounds continue to be widely used.

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Donations can be made direct to the Friends of St Mary’s using sort code 40-41-28, account number 33025314 and the reference ‘stonework’, or through the Charity Aid Foundation, where St Mary de Haura is a registered charity, again using the reference ‘stonework’.

If you would like to first speak to one of the team, please telephone the office on 01273 440202.

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