This Essex church needs to raise £17,500 to pay for the scaffolding but at least the tower is now clear of tonnes of pigeon muck. Fortunately too, the bell itself is sound and clear of rubbish but the bellframe needs repair. And so, the list of works needed.
St Nicholas is on the HARR (Heritage at Risk Register) and as a result of heavy rains and frost, the tower has lost more flint and been deemed unsafe by the architect Margaret Davies.
Further cracks have appeared, said retired churchwarden Anne Pool, who thanked the Society for awarding £7,500 and also the Friends of Essex Churches for a donation of £10,000.
However, the parochial church council faces an uphill struggle to raise funds in an area of urban deprivation of south Essex. It does have a lively social media account – www.facebook.com/stnicholaschurchockendon
Meanwhile, the church is asking for grant help from heritage bodies and other charities. Donations to the church will be most welcome.
Online payments can be made –
The bank details are
Name – St Nicholas Church
Sort Code – 60 09 11
Account – 72403780
Photograph, Margaret Davies, November 2023. The crack in the round tower – just one of the urgent repairs needed to the church.