Shropshire church in need of urgent repairs

A fundraising campaign is under way to raise the funds for St Lucia's Church in Upton Magna, near Shrewsbury, which has major structural damage and no heating.

Church members say at the moment the building is hardly used and they want to install toilets and a kitchen to make it more community friendly.

Sue Woods, fundraising co-ordinator, said: "We have huge problems with roof and drainage.

"Parts of the church are over 1,000 years old and at the moment we hardly use it as the heating has packed up.

"Health and safety is a big thing and we have got pieces of the ceiling coming off.

"We have maintained it very well over the years. But because of the sort of drainage there is, there is a lot of cracking as the roof and walls are moving.

"We won't need a completely new roof, just a new ceiling inside.

"The government is supposed to be giving money for roofs so we applied in January and are waiting to hear whether we will get that.

"It is a lovely village in the heart of the community and it would be terrible if we had to close."

A conservation architectural report said: "Extensive repairs are needed to the collapsing ceiling. Structural cracks in the medieval walls needs urgent attention to prevent water incursion. A new heating system needs to be installed.

"The old wall paintings becoming visible through the lime wash need to be expertly restored. Ideally water, kitchen and toilet facilities need to be installed to provide for the local community." A group of parishioners have formed The Friends of St Lucia's to raise the money required. To raise funds for the church a 'lambing live' event took place at Church Farm in Upton Magna yesterday.

Anyone wishing to donate money to the church can send a cheque, made payable to St Lucia's Upton Magna Fabric Fund, to the treasurer, Mr P Woods at Broadacres, Pelham Road, Upton Magna, Shrewsbury, SY4 4UA.