A quiet English village holds a secret – a church leaning further than the famed Tower of Pisa. St James’s Church in Dry Doddington isn’t just old; it’s dramatically, visibly tilting, a testament to centuries of settling and the relentless pull of gravity.
Church warden Richard Loynes describes the situation with a wry acceptance. The church, like so many others, faces a daunting repair bill, but their challenge is uniquely precarious. A wonky floor is just the beginning of a long list of necessary renovations.
The goal is to raise just over £100,000 – a substantial sum needed to stabilize the floor, repair crumbling plaster, and bring the church’s electrical system into the 21st century. Currently, the entire building relies on a single electrical outlet.
St James’s began its life in the 12th century, originally built as a small chapel for the elderly residents of the area. It offered a convenient alternative to the long walk to the neighboring parish of Westborough, a simple act of kindness that blossomed into a dedicated church community.
The tower, a striking feature dating back to the 14th century, began to noticeably shift in the late 1800s. Over time, the lean has become increasingly pronounced, a slow but steady descent into architectural instability. It now tilts a staggering 5.1 degrees.
Within the walls of St James’s rests a poignant memorial. It honors the crew of a 49 Squadron Avro Lancaster bomber that tragically crashed near the village in November 1944, a solemn reminder of wartime loss and local history.
The community rallied this past Easter, hosting a vibrant fair, a welcoming cafe, and an engaging egg hunt, all in support of the restoration appeal. Every contribution, large or small, brings them closer to securing the church’s future.
Ironically, while St James’s leans further, recent studies show the Leaning Tower of Pisa itself has been subtly correcting its posture over the last two decades. This offers a glimmer of hope – even the most dramatic tilts can be addressed with dedicated effort and expertise.
