Three Fenland churches have been added to Historic England's latest 'At Risk' register - the annual snapshot of the health of the country's most valued buildings.
Among the three is St Wendreda's Church in March, renowned worldwide for its magnificent carved-angel ceiling. It is among 138 sites added to the register published today.
The church is suffering from severe structural issues that threaten its survival.
Surveys have revealed that the tie bars within the 43m high church spire have corroded, and the surrounding stonework needs extensive repair.
Without immediate intervention, metalwork could drop, and in adverse weather, the church spire could topple, which is dangerous as the church is near a public highway.
Historic England comments: "This risks the church’s irreplaceable and particularly fine double hammerbeam roof, which dates from 1523-26 and features, in two tiers, 118 intricately carved oak angels and saints.
"The church bells can no longer be rung due to safety concerns. St Wendreda’s is the only church in the UK dedicated to the 7th-century Anglo-Saxon princess saint, Wendreda."
As previously reported in the Cambs Times and Wisbech Standard, the church has launched an ambitious fundraising campaign to raise the estimated £250,000 needed for essential repairs.
Rev Ruth Clay, who is leading the fundraising initiative, has previously appealed for volunteers to provide expertise to the campaign.
She has also said: "There is so much at risk if the spire is not saved. The church has a thriving congregation for Sunday services and is also home to a growing number of events and concerts.”
St Mark's in Friday Bridge has also been added to the register. It has been added due to safety concerns over its iconic leaning tower.
A meeting was held last month by the Diocese of Ely's church buildings department in the parish to discuss the setting up of a project team of community volunteers to help fundraise for essential repairs.
The church has severe structural problems with the tower, which allows water to leak into the building, which dates from 1864, and the brickwork is deteriorating; there are also drainage issues.
Finally, All Saints Church in Elm has also been added.
The Grade I listed building is described as being in a poor condition, and is declining slowly without any solutions in place. It has been marked as a priority 'C'.
Over the past year, 21 historic buildings and sites in the East of England have been added to the Register because they are at risk of neglect, decay or inappropriate development.
Claudia Kenyatta CBE and Emma Squire CBE, Co-CEOs of Historic England, said: “The heritage we see all around us impacts how we feel about our local places. The annual Heritage at Risk Register gives us the opportunity to celebrate the many benefits of bringing our historic buildings back into use.
“The best way to protect our buildings is to reuse them, turning them into places of local connection and joy. The sites that have been saved and have come off the Register this year really highlight the benefits of working together in partnership, and with communities, to create positive, sustainable change. Together we can safeguard our heritage for future generations.”
Heritage Minister Baroness Twycross said: “We are determined to protect the heritage at the heart of our communities.
“It is fantastic to see so many historical sites saved for communities up and down the country. These are much loved places and it is great to see them being brought back in to use. This year alone our £15 million Heritage at Risk Capital Fund has been key to saving buildings like these.”
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