Rishi has praised the work to restore the tower of an historic Yorkshire Dales church.
The Richmond and Northallerton MP said the project to repair the tower of St Oswald’s, Askrigg, would help to preserve one the Dales’ best-loved landmarks.
The tower, which is almost 600 years old, had been badly affected by damp which threatened the operation of the church clock and its bells, three of which date from 1657. The damp and moisture in the tower was also affecting the main body of the church.
The restoration has involved removal of cement pointing from the tower’s stonework, repointing and applying a lime render – work that has been approved by Historic England, the Society for the Protection of Historic Buildings and the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It also had the support of Askrigg Parish Council.
Rishi, who visited the church to see the work, said: “The church team has done a great job to ensure the tower and church is preserved for future generations. St Oswald’s Church tower has been a much-loved landmark in upper Wensleydale for hundreds of years. It was vital that this work was carried out effectively.”
The restoration work attracted some controversy when the tower with its bright new render was revealed.
But the church authorities pointed out that the new render was a restoration of how the church tower originally looked. Removal of the original render had taken place in the 19th century.
The Rev David Clark, vicar of St Oswald’s and the Benefice of Upper Wensleydale, explained to Rishi the challenge the church faced in saving the tower.
Mr Clark showed Rishi the completed works and ascended the tower to the ringing chamber to meet Kevin Sorsby, the Tower Captain who leads church’s bell ringers.
Mr Clark said: “It’s been a long journey of research and fundraising but we now have the historic tower of St Oswald’s restored to how she looked in the 15th century.
“She’s a visible beacon on the landscape saying: ‘Here I am…a house of worship and of prayer’ ”
