St John’s Church in Birkby facing 10 more years of repairs

Jul 24 2009 by Sam Casey, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

REPAIR costs continue to spiral at a church that was landed with a huge bill by burglars exactly a year ago.

St John’s Church in Birkby could be facing a 10-year restoration battle.

The church was wrecked by raiders who tried to rip off copper lightning conductors from the roof a year ago today.

Leaders were left with a repair bill of more than £750,000 after the steeple came crashing down in the early hours incident.

Most of the cost was covered by the church’s insurers.

But the congregation still had to find £100,000.

It has only raised £18,000 of that so far – and has now been dealt a further blow after the repair project uncovered £200,000-worth of problems that needed fixing.

Worshippers now face a nervous wait to find out if they will get grants to cover the massive costs.

Rev Sue Clarke, who was installed as vicar earlier this year, said: “The thing that concerns me most is that we don’t get bogged down with fundraising and project management and lose sight of what we are here for.