Wolverhampton church launches appeal for help after part of roof ripped off
A Black Country church is reaching out for public help with donations after suffering storm damage.
The roof of Lanesfield Methodist Church in Wolverhampton was severely damaged by high winds and rain with parts of the roof over the vestry area ripped off.
Leadership team member Susan Smith said that church stewards were called to the church and described what they found.
She said: “They found that the roof had lifted up and was literally folded back like a carpet over the vestry area and half the front of the church area.
"The wood fascia underneath the front door had come off and, I think, the wind had got underneath it and just ripped it away.”
The church is set to celebrate its 60th anniversary in December and has been a community hub, acting as a venue for boys and girls brigade, as well as pensioner groups.
Mrs Smith said she had been part of the church for most of her life and said the damage couldn’t have come at a worse time.
She said: “We were struggling financially before this and while we are one of the luckier churches in the region, as some have had to close, this is a cost we didn’t need.
“While we don’t know the exact cost at the moment, as they’re doing estimates, we think it’s going to cost thousands of pounds.”
She said a Just Giving page was in the process of being set up and encouraged people to make a donation to keep a community hub alive.
