England's Iconic Leaning Church Faces £100,000 Repair Crisis
St James' Church in the village of Dry Doddington, Lincolnshire, famously dubbed Britain's answer to The Leaning Tower of Pisa, is urgently seeking £100,000 in repairs to prevent its structure from crumbling. The 12th-century building's spire angles at a distinctive 5.1 degrees, creating its signature wonky appearance that has captivated locals and visitors alike.
A Chapel Built for Ease Now in Distress
Originally constructed as a Chapel of Ease for elderly residents who could not walk to neighbouring villages, the church has become a cherished community landmark. Its tower, dating from the 14th century, is believed to have first shifted in the late 19th century and was underpinned in 1918 to halt further tilting.
Church warden Richard Loynes expressed both pride and concern, stating: The church is very much part of the village and we're proud of its uniqueness. I wish we had the same levels of funding as the Leaning Tower of Pisa however – but that's not the case and we need help. He humorously added that he plans to visit Pisa soon to see what the secret is to securing substantial preservation funds.
Preserving the Lean While Fixing the Floor
Mr Loynes has launched a GoFundMe page to raise the necessary funds, emphasising that the crookedness of the spire must be preserved as it defines the church's character. The tilt is attributed to the building being situated on a large clay heap that expands and contracts with moisture changes, compounded by a lack of traditional foundations.
The church has no foundations and was just plonked on earth, he explained. It was underpinned to make sure it doesn't move any more. We think that is the most likely cause but some have said it could be on a burial ground too. Despite the lean, the structure is fully stable, and repairs aim solely to address deterioration, not correct the angle.
Deterioration Demands Immediate Action
Following a £100,000 restoration in 2015 to save the eroding tower stones, other parts of the building have since declined. The wooden church floor has sunk, causing stone slabs and slates to crack and shift, creating a hazardous surface for parishioners.
The floor is now also rather wonky after it sunk and slabs and slates have cracked and moved too, Mr Loynes noted. We still have services but warn people about the wonky floor, so we need it replacing really for the safety of parishioners. As with hundreds of churches we need to raise funds, but we're as bad, if not worse than most due to having the wonky floor.
Community Rallies to Save a Historic Gem
The required £100,000 would fund floor replacement, wall replastering, and electrical upgrades, as the church currently has only one plug. Villager Thomas Ratledge echoed community sentiment, saying: We like to think of it as Britain's answer to The Leaning Tower of Pisa and such a historic church deserves to be saved. If the floor and walls get any worse than we worry for its future but we are confident and hopeful it will be protected for generations to come.
He emphasised the church's role as a focal point for the community all year round, highlighting its unique character and historical significance. The public appeal underscores the challenges faced by many historic buildings in maintaining structural integrity while preserving their distinctive features.
