TWO churches in Test Valley have been landed with a £46,000 combined restoration bill after a five-yearly check-up found them to be in urgent need of repair.
Work to St Mary’s Church in Broughton and St James’s Church in Bossington will start in early spring, according to parish warden Alan Park.
The list of repairs revealed by the latest inspection was longer and more costly than the churches had been expecting.
The most immediate problem was in the belltower of St James’s. A thorough overhaul of the bell housing and rusting ringing mechanism was recommended.
St James’s is also in need of repairs to the font, cleaning, painting and preservation of ironwork and timber, as well as electrical work.
Meanwhile at St Mary’s two stained glass windows, guttering and eaves are in need of attention and a nasty crack in the west wall needs investigating to see whether it is serious or superficial.
The trustees of the Friends of St Mary’s and St James’s have pledged £36,000 towards the cost of the work.
Mr Park said he was busy preparing grant applications to make up the shortfall.
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