A medieval church in Lincolnshire that has been compared to Italy's famous Leaning Tower of Pisa is launching an urgent appeal for £100,000 to prevent it from falling into disrepair.
St James' Church in the village of Dry Doddington, which dates back to the 12th century, features a crooked spire that leans at an angle of 5.1 degrees, giving the building its distinctive tilted appearance.
The structure, often referred to as England's most lopsided place of worship, has become a beloved local landmark.
However, it now faces an uncertain future without significant restoration work.
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The church was originally constructed as a Chapel of Ease, designed to spare elderly parishioners the journey to services in a neighbouring village.
Its tower, which dates back to the 14th century, is thought to have begun its gradual shift during the late 1800s.
Engineers intervened in 1918, underpinning the structure to halt any further movement.
Church warden Richard Loynes explained that the building sits on clay soil without proper foundations.
Its tower, which dates back to the 14th century, is thought to have begun its gradual shift during the late 1800s
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"The church has no foundations and was just plonked on earth," he said. "It was underpinned to make sure it doesn't move any more".
Some locals have speculated the site may rest upon an ancient burial ground.
Mr Loynes has launched a GoFundMe appeal to secure the necessary funds for restoration work.
He said: "The church is very much part of the village and we're proud of its uniqueness.
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Despite the fundraising efforts, Mr Loynes stressed there are no plans to straighten the famous lean.
The tower faced potential collapse in 2015 due to stone erosion, prompting approximately £100,000 in emergency repairs.
However, other parts of the building have since deteriorated significantly.
The wooden floor has sunk, causing stone slabs and slates to crack and shift.
The tower faced potential collapse in 2015 due to stone erosion, prompting approximately £100,000 in emergency repairs
|GOOGLE STREET VIEW
"I wish we had the same levels of funding as the Leaning Tower of Pisa; however, that's not the case and we need help."
The warden, who is planning a trip to Italy with his wife, joked that he might seek advice from Pisa's custodians.
"I perhaps need to get speaking to them to see what the secret is," he said.
Services continue, but worshippers are warned about the uneven surface.
The fundraising target would cover floor replacement, wall replastering, and electrical improvements – the church currently has just a single plug socket.
Local resident Thomas Ratledge said: "We like to think of it as Britain's answer to The Leaning Tower of Pisa, and such a historic church deserves to be saved. It is a building with such unique character and is a focal point for the community all year round."