THANK YOU: DHCT's Dorchester Deanery representative Ursula Pomeroy hands the cheque to St Michael's Church's treasurer Trevor Bassett and The Rev Rosemary Bassett Picture: Dave Penman
A GRANT of £6,000 from the Dorset Historic Churches Trust has helped complete essential repair work on the oldest church spire in the county.
The cheque was presented outside St Michael's Church, at Winterbourne Steepleton near Dorchester, to the Rev Rosemary Bassett by the trust's Dorchester Deanery representative, Ursula Pomeroy.
Sections of stonework in the octagonal 18th century spire had become cracked by rusting ironwork.
The damage was identified during the 2005 quinquennial inspection carried out by church architect and assessor Mike Howarth of The John Stark & Crickmay Partnership.
The total cost of the repair work was £16,000, which was met by grants from other bodies and private donations received in local appeals.
Appeal organiser, treasurer and church warden Trevor Bassett added that a large part of the cost was for the scaffolding.
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Mrs Bassett said: "We are extremely grateful for the encouragement given by the trust to get on with the repairs and for their financial help without which it could not have been undertaken."
A church has stood on the site of St Michael's at Winterbourne Steepleton since the 11th century but the spire was not completed until later and is one of only three ancient spires in the county.
The other two are at Trent and Iwerne Minster but St Michael's is known to be the oldest.
The building is of Saxon design but Normans rebuilt much of the nave wall.
The church was dedicated to St Michael in 1401 and many structural and ornamental changes have taken place there over the centuries.
Last year, DHCT paid out grants of £41,500 to 14 churches in Dorset with a further £93,250 awaiting collection by another 14 parishes.
Since its foundation as a registered charity in 1960 the trust has assisted more than 250 local churches of all denominations with grants, loans and guidance on the funding of fabric repairs, maintenance and restoration.
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