St Anne's Church roof attended to by specialist firm

WORK has begun to repair the leaking roof of St Anne's Church.

The first phase of the £317,000 project has seen workers from specialist stonemasonry firm Vaudin stripping slate tiles from the chancel roof.

They will then salvage what tiles they can to put back on the roof and source any new ones they need.

During this first phase of work, which will take until early December, they will go on to strip and replace tiles on the roof of the Lady Chapel, vestry and organ area. They will also repair and replace sections of guttering and downpipes around the perimeter of the church. Repair work on St Anne's was long overdue as rain was getting in through the roof and gutters were overflowing, which could eventually have become a safety risk.

Vaudin's job is to prevent further damage while conserving its historic character. As with any historic building, the church's distinctive quirks will present its own challenges to workers.

Lance Vaudin, managing director of Vaudin Stonemasons, said: 'The slates on the roof are not conventional – they are all random lengths. The church is not square and everything butts into everything else and nothing is on one level. Throughout the history of the church so many things have been done, so it's all a bit of a mismatch. But that's what makes jobs like this interesting to work on.'

The second phase of work, due to commence next spring, will see stonemasons move onto the church tower. During their works they will also be checking the soundness of the roof timbers – some of which can be seen through damaged sections of tiles.

It has taken more than two years to find a company with the expertise to carry out the church work and Alderney States was eventually compelled to advertise off island for contractors.

Guernsey-based Vaudin previously supplied and installed the Affray memorial at Douglas Quay and has restored dozens of churches in the past. They are being assisted by local builder James Walker and Island Scaffolding.