Conservation trust to repair storm damage at Hove church

Storm damage at a Hove church is being repaired with help from the Churches Conservation Trust and government funding.

Water damaged internal lighting at St Andrew’s Church in Waterloo Street, Hove.

It is one of at least 11 of the churches in the care of the trust to have been affected by the high winds and heavy rain.

On Tuesday (4 March) the Department for Culture, Media and Sport announced that it would help fund the urgent repairs being carried out by the trust, including those at St Andrew’s.

The Conservative MP for Hove, Mike Weatherley, said: “This funding is excellent news for St Andrew’s Church.

“Brighton and Hove was hit fairly badly by the recent storms so I was not surprised to learn that the church had been damaged.

“I understand that the Churches Conservation Trust is delighted with help towards repairs and look forward to seeing the restored light in all its glory in the near future.”

St Andrew’s – a grade I listed building – is one of 344 churches of historic importance deemed to be at risk and under the protection of the Churches Conservation Trust.

The trust’s chief executive Crispin Truman said: “Inevitably the recent extreme weather has hit a number of our historic churches around the country with issues from serious flooding and water ingress to wind damage causing holes to appear in church roofs.

“As a charity these unexpected urgent repairs create a financial burden so we are extremely grateful to be receiving emergency funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in order to help us repair the damage quickly.”

Work is expected to be completed this month.