Church targeted for lead is to be given a revamp

A Grade II-listed church in South Staffordshire that has become a magnet for metal thieves will be stripped of its lead and given a makeover, it emerged today.

Nestled in the middle of Patsull Park, The Church of St Mary is hidden from view of the road and as a result, has become a "ripe target" for thieves. Alternative fittings will be put in as part of the work.

Conservation officers have warned unless the renovation is carried out, the church – which dates back to 1743 – is liable to fall victim time and time again.

A report drawn up on behalf of the Churches Conservation Trust, which owns the building, states that lead sheeting was ripped from the roof during the summer last year, along with lead lining from the chancel and lead rainwater protection.

The trust will now replace the old lead fittings with zinc sheeting and use cast iron to waterproof the roof.

Officers agreed that it was "pointless" to replace the missing roof materials like-for-like with more lead as it would most likely just be stolen again, damaging the roof and leaving the church vulnerable to water damage.

"This church is in a very isolated location and it is a ripe target for repeated visits by metal thieves," the report states.

"This is a very sensible and reasonable proposal, which should act both as a deterrent to future theft and ensure a more secure future for the building."

Last year, English Heritage was forced to soften its stance on how leaders can deal with the problem of lead theft due to rising numbers of the crime across the UK.

While previously the heritage body had forced churches to replace stolen lead with more lead, leaving them vulnerable to repeated attacks, it will now support the use of alternative materials in some cases.