Church Building emergency repairs
Lead and other metal theft
This advice note from Historic England goes into more detail.
If lead has been stolen or a theft is in process, call the Police. Then call your Insurer and the Archdeacon. Arrange to secure the roof with a temporary covering to prevent further water damage. We can then discuss with you how to go about getting a permanent covering back on the roof.
Preventing a theft occurring is even better. Assess the risk, remove wheelie bins and ladders from beside the church, consider restricting vehicular access and ask your neighbours to keep an eye on the church and report any suspicious activity. Consult with your insurer about what they require to be in place to ensure full coverage should the worst happen. This may include a roof alarm, for which some grant aid is available from The Benefact Trust.
In cases of any emergency to do with church buildings, outside office hours, please contact your Archdeacon:
Archdeacon of Stow and Lindsey
07809 521995
Archdeacon of Lincoln
07590 950041
Archdeacon of Boston
07715 077993
Flooding
If you know your settlement is prone to flooding, listen for flood warnings from the Environment Agency. If the church is likely to flood, then you should lift items from the floor and remove any carpet. Ideally, don’t have carpet down in the first place. Protect the organ as much as you are able and disconnect any electrical items.
If you might need the church as a community hub in an emergency then think about how you will organise this safely. You can find case studies on flooding here.
Burst Pipes
Prevention again is better than cure. Make sure that pipes and water tanks are lagged. Ensure that the heating system and boiler are serviced regularly. Know where the stopcock is (remember they may be more than one supply).
If pipes have frozen, do not heat with direct flame. Switch the water off. Thaw the pipe gently with a hot water bottle, a hairdryer or a heater.
If a pipe has burst, first turn off the water supply. Then drain the system, catching water in buckets if possible. If you think the electrical system has been damaged, do not use and get it checked by a qualified electrician.