A BARNSLEY church has been added to Historic England’s Buildings at Risk Register.
The register contains details of historic buildings across the country which are at risk of collapse due to disrepair and are in urgent need of attention.
St Paul’s on Church Street, Brierley has been included for the first time due to water damage to the lower stonework.
The Victorian church was built in 1869 designed by John Wade.
Made from coursed, squared sandstone with a graduated slate roof, its west tower was repaired a few years ago.
But it has gained its place on the list due to damage to the stone eaves, gutters to the nave and chancel leaking, causing significant water damage to the lower stonework.
St Paul’s has already received a Heritage Lottery grant for work on the Grade II listed building.
Vicar Fr Ian McCormack said they are working through the development phase of the application for works and are awaiting faculty permission - the church equivalent of planning permission - and permission to start from the Heritage Lottery Fund themselves.
Fr Ian said: “It may sound strange to say this, but I am actually pleased that St Paul’s has been placed on the ‘At Risk’ register, because it has helped us with our application for Heritage Lottery Funding.
“We hope that the work will begin some time during the summer, and be completed by the end of the year. The work will carry out major repairs to the roof and gutters, making the building watertight and sound for generations to come, at which stage it should be removed from the ‘At Risk’ register.
“The project will also install an accessible toilet and basic kitchen facilities in St Paul’s, enabling us to offer much more in terms of hospitality to our congregations and the wider community than we are currently able to do.
“Finally, there will be a raft of new materials to help visitors engage with the heritage of this beautiful building. So this is an exciting time for St Paul’s, and being on the ‘At Risk’ register has been just one part of that.
“If people would like to find out more about our plans, we have two open days, to which everyone is welcome: June 30, 12-4pm; and July 9, 3-7pm.”
***
THE CHURCH of St Paul in Brierley is just the latest building to join the list of those at risk in the Barnsley borough.
Also featured on Historic England’s register is:
The conservation area of Worsbrough, which is described as being in very bad condition and deteriorating.
The Church of St Helen, High Street, Thurnscoe.
The Church of St Peter, including attached wall and gateway to south west, Brinckman Street, Barnsley.
The heavy anti-aircraft gunsite 330m south east of Lowfield Farm and the East Gawber Hall colliery fanhouse, 800m north east of Croft Farm.
Grimethorpe Hall, on Brierley Road, Grimethorpe.
Dovecote at Glebe Farm, Tankersley.
The gun room at Wentworth Castle, Stainborough.
Knabbe’s Hall, Nabs Lane, Silkstone.
The Romano-British settlements at Finkle Street, Wortley.
The water powered bloomery, iron forge and rolling mill at Low Forge and Low Forge itself in Wortley/ Hunshelf.
