Campaign to save church spire from collapse

St Gerrans Church spire was used as a navigation point by fisherman

A campaign has been launched to prevent the collapse of a historic church spire built as a navigation point.

The stone exterior of the tower of St Gerrans Church in Cornwall is so badly eroded water has to be collected in buckets whenever it rains. Now the woodwork that holds the spire together is also under threat.

Fundraising group Save Our Spire has raised more than £151,000 but needs another £66,000 so urgent work can be carried out before winter storms arrive.

Group member James Leggate said: "The tower was built and 100 years later the spire was added at the request of local fishermen - it's still a navigation point on Admiralty Charts."

Residents packed a meeting held to organise fundraising ideas

Residents of Portscatho and Gerrans packed a meeting called to discuss the threat to the spire and the need to find £66,000 to save it.

Nev Meek, president of The Federation of Old Cornwall Societies, said churches were unique in their value to the community.

"There's something about a church that is really important to communities, community cohesion and their identity," he said.

"It really seems to have an impact on the community that no other building has.

"The spire on Gerrans church dates from the 15th Century and they're relatively unusual on Cornish churches. So the fact that it's got this lovely spire is really special for us here in Gerrans."

Mr Meek said he was also passionate about saving the spire for personal reasons.

"Not only do I have an interest in making sure our tangible cultural heritage is protected and preserved but I have a personal involvement.

"It's the church where I was baptised, where my mother was baptised and buried. There are countless generations of my family that are buried in the churchyard, watched over by the steeple and the church," he said

Robin Edwards said the church was a "wonderful piece of architecture and history"

Village resident Robin Edwards said: "Ultimately the spire on the church is falling down, it's in a bad state of repair.

"There's been a fantastic team that have been fundraising for at least a year but they've come up with a shortfall.

"They've got some grants and lottery money but ultimately we're short by about £66,000."

Mr Edwards said the spire was an important landmark.

"You can see it (the spire) from miles around, it's a very dominant, very important piece of architecture.

"It's a piece of history and a focal point of the two villages of Gerrans and Portscatho.

"It falls on all of us as custodians of our villages and members of the community to do what we can, if we don't act we could lose this wonderful piece of architecture and history, " he said.