A church in Lincolnshire that leans more than the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa has become dangerous to use, with cracked walls and an uneven floor, prompting a fundraising campaign for repairs.
Leaning Tower of St James' Church
Parishioner Mike Hine, a member of the church council, said residents of Dry Doddington were "up in arms" when they learned that the severely tilted tower of St James' Church could force its closure if the flooring is not fixed. The Grade II listed building's tower leans at 5.1 degrees, compared to the Tower of Pisa's 3.97 degrees.
Mr Hine explained that the floor inside the nave is becoming dangerous, with paving slabs settled unevenly and timber areas under pews affected by woodworm, dry rot, and wet rot. "We've got trip hazards, basically. We use it for a very limited number of services, and that's all at the moment," he said. The church is kept locked unless a responsible person is present.
Urgent Need for Funds
Richard Loynes, the church warden, wrote on an online fundraising page: "Our beautiful 14th century church, which has the famous tower that leans more than Pisa, is central to our community. If we cannot raise the money to replace the floor, ultimately the church will have to close."
Mr Hine added that the tower's movement has caused "nasty cracking" in the walls, causing plaster to fall off. The plan is to address both the floor and plastering simultaneously to make the building safe again. The total cost for repairs is estimated at £150,000.
Community and Heritage
The church is a vital part of Dry Doddington's history and heritage. Mr Hine noted that while services are infrequent, the building is regularly used for weddings and funerals. "People want it to be there for that in the future," he said.
The reason for the tower's lean is unknown, but the building's shallow foundations on clay ground contribute to its movement with weather changes. A grant application has been submitted to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and donations are being sought. So far, over £6,500 has been raised online.
If the Heritage Fund application is unsuccessful, the church will seek smaller grants from other charities, though delays may increase costs. The church originally served as a chapel of ease before becoming a separate parish and contains a memorial to an RAF Avro Lancaster that crashed nearby in 1944.
