St Peter’s Church in Onchan is in need of urgent repairs to its spire, tower and west-facing walls.

Elaine Litherland, as secretary of the Parochial Church Council and on behalf of the church vicar and wardens, has applied (20/00452/CON) for registered building consent to repair the church.

The required works were identified during an inspection by consulting structural and civil engineer John Gray in 2019.

His report identified the ’urgent need to complete the repairs to the spire and tower as this part of the building is believed to be the most vulnerable part of the structure’.

This includes water ingress causing damage to the church’s interior walls and ceilings.

There is also evidence of vegetation growing in the mortar joints which would be raked out and replaced with lime mortar.

Mr Gray identified that work to remove the vegetation required attention within the next 12 months.

However, other work including the walls, tower and spire, are only listed as needing to be completed within the next five years.

The vegetation indicates that not only is the mortar in ’poor condition’ but also ’excessively damp’.

Repairs to the spire would include repointing the top seven metres and repairs to the pointing down to level with the bottom of the bell chamber louvres.

The work will help reduce rainwater percolation through the stonework that readily occurs, even following a shower.

This ingress of water has caused some mortar to be washed away and created voids in the masonry.

As well as the planning committee, the work would also require the support of the Diocesan Advisory Committee for it to go ahead. This has been sought.