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St Walburge’s Church needs urgent and major restoration work

Posted on - 11th June, 2020 - 7:00pm | Author - | Posted in - Ashton-on-Ribble, Charities, Preston News, University campus
St Walburge's Church in Ashton-on-Ribble Pic: Tony Worrall
St Walburge’s Church in Ashton-on-Ribble Pic: Tony Worrall

One of Preston’s most iconic buildings is calling for the city to help raise £3.5million for its restoration.

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St Walburge’s Church has the tallest spire of any parish church in Britain and is grade-I listed.

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The church in 2008 was given just a year to continue due to funding issues and was facing decommissioning.

The Christ the King Sovereign Priest now operate the church but say it needs major and urgent restoration.

A spokesman for the church said: “St. Walburge’s restoration project is urgently needed to tackle the inevitable decay and deterioration of the fabric of this magnificent church and its subsidiary buildings as a result of a long period of neglect, added to by the exceptional severe weather fronts which have been experienced in recent years.

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“St. Walburge’s restoration project therefore, is designed to prevent this magnificent church from further deterioration and to provide this iconic church building with urgent repair, conservation treatments and improvements that are set to benefit its congregation and the wider community both today and in the future.”

St Walburge's as seen from Lostock Hall Pic: Karl Davison
St Walburge’s as seen from Lostock Hall Pic: Karl Davison

The repairs are due to take place in four phases over the next five years.

Read more: Cottam scarecrows raise community spirits in lockdown

Here’s the detail on what’s planned as and when the money is raised:

Phase 1

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  • Complete re-roofing of the whole church
  • Stained glass and stained glass protectors repair
  • Heating system renewal
  • West End re-ordering to improve the toilet facilities
  • Disabled access improvement

Phase 2

  • Repair to the Parish Hall
  • Repair to the Talbot library

Phase 3

  • Work on the East End
  • New lighting system
  • A-V system installation

Phase 4

  • Work to convert the convent building

Read more: Fundraiser set up in memory of football who died in Cottam

A video has been released about the fundraising campaign, watch it below, and donations can be made by the Golden Giving website.

The church also says it’s popular beer festival is due to return, the Spire at Night tours and award galas in coming months and years as lockdown eases.

Read more: See the latest Preston news and headlines

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