FAILING and rotting parts of St Thomas’s Church need repairs after water damage, with the timber roof structure and lead copings affected.
The Diocese of Portsmouth has applied for planning permission for the repairs to the 138-year-old church.
In the documentation provided to planning officers, the Diocese said the works would have “minimal impact on the historic fabric of the church”, replacing failed and rotten structural elements “on a like-for-like basis”.
They said they would reinstate any complete roof tiles they removed, or replace them with matching clay tiles if needed.
The church has been through a number of major pieces of repair in recent years. In 2020, over £1 million was raised for repairs to its spire.
