Church Roof Repair

The problem we have with our roofs

(The following is taken from the report submitted to English Heritage by their architect John Edwards)

“The roofs are covered in Westmorland slate, laid to diminishing courses.

The building is generally in sound condition. However the roofs and leadwork are the original coverings (1876) and are in need of renewal because of their age. Many of the existing slates should be salvageable for re-use, but nail fatigue is causing failure. The leadwork, in particular at valleys and intersections, is in need of renewal. Because of the complex intersections of roofs and abutments, some of the valley gutters are difficult to access for routine maintenance, and have failed. The valley between the vestry and south transept, in particular, is very narrow, because of the steep pitch of the vestry roof and its abutment with the vertical wall of the transept. When renewing the leadwork, the opportunity should be taken to increase the width of the gutter, and to improve the steps and falls.

A similar situation exists at the junction of the organ chamber and north transept and the valley gutter between the tower and nave roof.

There is evidence of water ingress in a number of other locations in the church, for example on the north wall of the nave adjacent to the transept

At various roof abutments there appear to be no lead soakers of flashings. For example, at the abutment of the choir vestry roof with the nave wall, where the slates appear to be chased into the wall, with only a small mortar joint to seal the junction.

Similarly the nave roof abutment with the gable parapet appears not to have soakers or flashings. The opening up of such details should form part of the project development works to establish the existing detail and specify appropriate repairs.

The stability of the stone and metal crosses to the apex of the roofs should be checked as part of the development works.

The cast-iron gutters sit on a projecting stone corbel. It appears that the gutters have been renewed at some stage using half-round sections, whereas the original gutter profile is likely to have been square section, possibly with an ogee profile. There is evidence of the gutters leaking at a number of locations. This is in part likely to be as a result of the joints opening up, or of corrosion. However in a number of locations the failure appears to result from poor detailing of the gutters/rainwater pipes/hopper
heads. There are particular problems on the west side of the north transept, the gutter and downpipes between the organ chamber and north transept roofs and the arrangement of rainwater disposal on the north side of the chancel roof and organ chamber roof.

The organ blower roof is a very shallow monopitch. It has a covering of slate which has been over-felted with bituminous felt, possibly because the slate covering failed because of the excessively shallow pitch. This roof needs investigation as part of the project development works, and an appropriate covering specified to take account of the shallow pitch.”

Appeal

Click here for information about our first fund raising effort - a "Cathedral Crawl" by Derek Brown.

We would greatly appreciate any suggestions that visitors to this page may have for raising money for the roof repair. If you know of Charitable Trusts that fund such projects or have any suggestions for fund raising please contact
The Revd B. Harrison,
St Helen's Vicarage,
7 Carlton Terrace,
Low Fell,
Gateshead
NE9 6DE

brucemh@globalnet.co.uk

This page will be regularly updated with information on progress of the project.