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Dry rot church in new fund-raising plea
From the Bolton Evening News, first published Monday 29th May 2000.
A HUGE fund-raising appeal has been launched to repair a 150-year-old church riddled with dry rot.
And the appeal has gained added urgency after more diseased wood was discovered in the roof.
One of the walls is already completely infected.
Church leaders originally launched an appeal for £16,000 to repair the wall, on the west side of Horwich Parish Church.
But the discovery that the roof is also infected means the repair work will now cost in the region of £20,000.
An amazing £8,000 has been raised in just eight weeks by parishioners but it is still a long way short of what is needed.
The Rev Paul Berry said the discovery of more dry rot in the roof had come as a shock.
He said: "It was discovered during a random check. The fund-raising is going well but because of this new damage we will need even more money.
"We were planning to repair the west wall but I am afraid that is on ice now. The roof is now the emergency."
Charles Williamson, who is on the Parochial Church Council, said the congregation is determined to get the cash.
He said: "We're almost half way there and we'll keep going until we get there. We're confident of doing it. The church was built during the Crimean War 150 years ago so it is an important historic building."
The church is raising money in various ways, including a line of silver which is being laid around the church. If the line is completed it will raise more than £600 -- though church members stress that the money is removed on a daily basis and no cash is kept on the premises.
Donations have also been pushed through the letterbox.
Some of the money raised so far has been used to repair the church heating system and the plumbing.
Emergency work on the roof started yesterday and it is hoped that the west wall repairs will follow, as more cash is raised.
Roger Barker, one of the wardens at the church, added: "It is a big job but it is a beautiful building which is very old so we have to be prepared keep on top of problems as they arise.
"We've done very well with the fund-raising so far but there is still more to get."
Donations at the church are welcome.
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