Members of a Brierfield church have put out an appeal for thousands of pounds to help finance costly repair work.
St Luke’s Church Hall, on St James Street, requires £25,000 to complete treatment for dry rot and the addition of new flooring as well as long-standing issues such as the installation of a new boiler, kitchen roof repairs and an upgrade of facilities to enable disabled access.
The treatment for dry rot and subsequent new flooring in the hall is set to cost in the region of £10,000.
It is thought water has got in down a wall to cause the rot after it was discovered in April that a section of lead flashing had been stolen, possibly years ago.
Yesterday, church members held a coffee and cake sale to raise funds, and have a bric-a-brac sale coming up on Saturday, October 27th from 9am until 1pm.
As well as hosting church events, St Luke’s Hall is home to the St James Players, and wardens fear if the money cannot be raised, the future of the hall may be in doubt.
St Luke’s warden Mike Turner said: “On top of the floor, we have problems with a flat roof over the top of the kitchen which we can’t seem to stop the rain coming in. The boiler is obsolete and we need to upgrade facilities like the toilets for disabled people.
“It was only when somebody went up on the roof we found it (the flashing) had been stolen. The water has been running down a cavity between the toilet block and hall block, the damp has got under the floor and it has rotted away underneath.
“It’s got past patching up and needs replacing now. We will treat the dry rot, concrete it to a smooth finish and then cover it with something you more likely see in a hospital or school, a springy vinyl layer.
“The worse case scenario is we have to get rid of the hall which we don’t want to do. It’s a reasonable building other than the work which needs doing.”
For more information on donating, contact Church Wardens Mike Turner on 690747 or Christine Shore on 692238.
Alternatively, drop by at any 10am Sunday service, evening Thanksgiving Eucharist at 6pm or donate at Helliwells Funeral Service on Burnley Road.
To book a table at the bric-a-brac sale, call 618341. Tables are £5 and refreshments will be served.