Funding boost for Bratton Church as roof campaign continues

Fundraisers in Bratton have been given a much-needed boost in their efforts to replace the roof of the village church.

St James the Great Church, a Grade II* listed building with Norman and medieval features, had lead stripped from its roof by thieves six years ago, leaving the interior exposed to the elements.

Villagers rallied to raise funds for a temporary covering, but that roof has now deteriorated, and water is once again seeping in, staining the walls and damaging the interior wooden roof frames.

Now, thanks to a recommendation by the National Churches Trust, St James the Great has secured a £5,000 Wolfson Fabric Repair Grant from the Wolfson Foundation. The funding will help towards a new permanent roof made of Terne-Coat Steel – designed to keep the building protected for generations to come.

Mike Manson, a church member responsible for the church fabric, welcomed the grant, describing it as “a substantial contribution” to the project which is expected to cost over £100,000.

He said, “The members of St James’ Church and the many other villagers who support it warmly welcome this £5,000 grant from the Wolfson Foundation through the National Churches Trust.   

“With this grant, we’ll have somewhere approaching £60,000 that we have raised so far but the total cost of the re-roofing project is in excess of £100,000 so we have still got some way to go.

“We’re still fundraising and we’ve made bids to a variety of organisations for grants and are waiting to hear back.

“Without this re-roofing project, aided by grants such as that from the Wolfson Foundation, it is almost certain that the temporary roof would soon fail and the church would have to close, especially during bad weather.  The permanent, stainless steel roof, will ensure that worship can continue for at least decades to come and also that visitors will be able to continue to enjoy this historic building.

“Our church is a very significant historic building within the village and is much loved.  Major festivals, such as Easter and Christmas, attract almost a quarter of the village population.

“The Friends of St James’ Church have been prominent in fund raising and they are largely villagers who do not attend church regularly but who wish to see the building maintained and retained for continuous use.”

St James the Great is thought to be built on the site of a Saxon chapel. It was extensively rebuilt around 1400 and still retains many Norman and later medieval features. This includes the 15th century gargoyles on the aisles and towers.     

The church is a focal point and village feature. A public footpath through the grounds attracts many visitors – both walkers and cyclists – to the church. It is hoped that by making these urgent roof repairs, the church will be a much more welcoming place for the local community, the congregation and tourists to enjoy. It will also allow the building to be used more often.

Photographs from Michael Manson.