Thieves strip the roof of 300-year-old Wakefield church

Thieves have stripped a 300-year-old Wakefield chapel of its roof joints and fixings.
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Ten of thousands of pounds have been spent to help bring Westgate Unitarian Chapel off Mulberry Way up to scratch in recent years, but criminals are thought to have targeted the roof for its lead content, which can be weighed in for scrap.

It is thought they struck sometime between June 16 and June 20.

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The chapel had begun a restoration project in collaboration with Dream Time Creative, to revive interest in church after the pandemic and has received over £40,000 from both Nova and Asda community foundation to cover essential building works and repairs and to deliver a programme of summer activities in the garden.

Church workers are dismayed by the theft.Church workers are dismayed by the theft.
Church workers are dismayed by the theft.

Sarah Cobham, heritage and community engagement project lead said: "We are disappointed that all the work we did to fix the vestry roof in February to make it water tight ready for the new kitchen, kindly funded by Asda, has been needlessly and mindlessly destroyed by vandals.

"Money earmarked to fix the roof on the main chapel has now had to be re-routed to sort this out.

"I've been so proud of what we have achieved here so far with hundreds of people coming into the garden through the week to engage in creative projects including willow weaving, yoga, summer writing and textile work, all inspired by the chapel.

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"If it rains before we can get the roof fixed again, the inner ceiling will be destroyed as well."

The chapel is almost 300 years old.The chapel is almost 300 years old.
The chapel is almost 300 years old.

The church, built in the 1700s, is Grade-II-listed and is the oldest church building of its type in the city.

Additional security to protect the chapel in future is now being considered.

Ali Scott, trustee of the chapel, said: "While the insurance will pay for the repair work we need to raise funds to ensure the space is kept safe from future vandalism.

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"Security cameras are, sadly, an essential part of our future moving forward."

The chapel workers are now looking to raise funds by hosting a series of charity concerts and would appeal to any famous local musicians, artists and creatives to get in touch.