Wonky church which leans more than the Tower of Pisa saved from collapse

An English church with a more extreme lean than the Tower of Pisa has been saved from collapse.

St James in Dry Doddington, Lincolnshire attracts hundreds of visitors each year who flock to see its 5.1° tilt — considerably more of a lean than the 3.97° of its Italian rival.

But the 12th-century tower has been in danger of collapse since 2015 due to stone erosion.

A total of £100,000 was spent on restoration, but in the last few months it has deteriorated again, sparking an appeal for help by parishioners.

The church has now received a £128,106 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, to the delight of church warden Richard Loynes.

‘This is excellent news and means that they can now place an order with the selected contractor to carry out the restoration work, which is programmed to commence in mid-October and be completed by next spring,’ he said.

The work will include a completely new floor to the nave, minor repairs to the chancel, repairs to cracked walls, making good all internal wall plastering, upgrading the electrics and providing a new information board.

‘Completion of this essential restoration will ensure that this important piece of built heritage can be preserved and used for many years to come,’ Mr Loynes added.

‘As the church has free-standing pews, once the work is completed it will also mean that the building can be used by the local community for a variety of events as well as traditional worship. Without it, the building would have to close in the near future as it becomes unsafe to use.”

A tea party will be held in the village hall on Saturday September 19 to celebrate.

St James Church was built originally as a Chapel of Ease for older residents to attend church rather than walking to neighbouring Westborough.

It later became a parish church in its own right. The tower, which dates from the 1300s, is believed to have first been moved in the late 19th century.