A fundraising campaign is being kicked into high gear after London’s oldest church was deemed unsafe.
Engineers recently inspecting the 170-year-old St. Paul’s Cathedral found that wooden trusses were more rotten than anticipated. The rotting trusses are putting extra pressure on the walls.
The declaration meant Sunday services were held in an adjacent chapel and hall.
The condition of the trusses isn’t a complete surprise. Back in August, the church began a fundraising campaign for the restoration, nicknamed Project Jericho.
They’re hoping to raise between $700,000 and $800,000, and Bishop Barry Clarke notes the goal is to save the roof and walls of the church.
“The church being unsafe means that we can’t go in there, from the engineer’s report, and it also means that we’ll have to wait and see what the proposed solution will be to make the necessary restoration and repairs, so it’s really up in the air at the moment,” Clarke said.
There is concern about the impact snow this winter will have on the roof.
It’s unknown how long the cathedral will be closed, church officials will meet with engineers on Tuesday.