Lead thefts create heavy burden for congregation
PARISHIONERS at St Michael and All Angels' Church, Glassenbury Drive, are being asked to sponsor the cost of repairing the church roof following two thefts and one attempted theft of lead during the past six months.
The loss has cost double the maximum 5,000 paid out by insurers in any one year, and so self-help is the church's only recourse, with a 50 donation being sought for every square foot of repair.
Churchwardens Mick Gregory and Ian Fishwick said: "It is our intention not to repair the damage with further amounts of lead, which would prompt further thefts, but to have affected areas covered in a plastic polymer as prescribed by our architect and approved by the diocese."
Anyone able to sponsor part or all of a square foot, or even more, should sent cheques made payable to "St Michael's Church" to Mr Fishwick at 44 Knebworth Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex TN39 4JJ.