Our Roof Fund Appeal

We have applied for two grants worth £5,000 and one for £3,000, which have been accepted plus a promised from Derbyshire County Council for £1000, making a total of £9,000 pound with extra promised by Councillor Howard. We are hoping to commence with the external works to the valley gutters in April 2021. We will still require funding for internal works to be carried out, and hope to have some fund raising events when this pandemic has eased.

The Church of St Laurence is the oldest building in the town of Long Eaton, offering a little oasis of calm next to the busy market place. The distinctive triple roof is one of a number of striking architectural features of the church, as is the fourteenth-century, fortress-like tower.

Unfortunately, time has taken its toll and the Victorian additions to the 11th century Lady Chapel are causing problems. The main roof pitches are finished with clay tiles, many of which have stood the test of time and weather, but the tiles are now brittle and crack with extremes of temperature.

Also during the last hundred and fifty years the lead has moved with changes of temperature, creating folds in the lead; the folds develop cracks allowing water ingress. The Victorian practice was to use long lengths of lead sheet; unfortunately, with changes of temperature this causes a lot of movement due to expansion and contraction.

Thank You

We are very pleased to announce a generous donation to our Roof Appeal in the form of a cheque for £3,000 from Allchurches Trust. For more information about Allchurches Trust visit  https://www.allchurches.co.uk/

Can you help?

Two detailed and exhaustive bids have been made for direct government funding, though without success. At present, the cost of repairing the roof will be £110,000. If the repair work is not carried out soon, the cost will be considerably more. Other sources of grant aid are being pursued.

We continue to raise funds for the Roof Appeal, and any donations are most welcome.  Please contact Mr Andrew Sheasby (Treasurer) on 01332 515335 or by email at:- stlaurence.treasurer@yahoo.com for details of how to donate.

Gift Aid: If you are a tax payer in this country, completion of a Gift Aid form or envelope will allow us to claim an additional 25% of your donation from the government.