Whatlington Church roof is finally completed, two years after it was destroyed by fierce blaze

Whatlington Parish Church is currently undergoing extensive renovation following the blaze in July 2010.

The works reached a milestone this week, with the completion of the new roof.

Jeffrey Bridges, churchwarden, said: “The roof is notable in that the timber frame dates from 1275 and is thus one of the oldest roofs in the area.

“The church had been restored in 1862 and was rather Victorian in appearance, masking its 13th Century origin, remarkably, although the fire fed on and destroyed the pine boarding inside the roof and popped the tiles off the outside, the medieval roof frame survived by and large.”

Lime plaster was used between the oak, so that the roof now looks as it would have appeared in medieval England.

However the work is not over yet.

Mr Bridges said: “There is still much to do and although much of the cost is covered by insurance the Parochial Church Council has an appeal to meet the many additional costs, including upgrades in several areas and the installation of a kitchen, toilet, together with gas and water which were not previously on the site.

“The appeal is progressing well but we still need to raise somewhere around a further £10,000.”

Anyone wishing to contribute to help Whatlington Church should contact Parochial Church Council treasurer Hilda Aplin at Lismoyne, Oakhurst Road, Battle, TN33 0JL.