WORSHIPPERS and bell ringers at Carhampton Parish Church have to pray and ring elsewhere after severe winds damaged one of the tower’s pinnacles.

Parish Rector Rev Caroline Ralph  says “The damage is so potentially dangerous, the pinnacle could fall through the church roof, so we have reluctantly had to close the church and rope off part of the churchyard to be on the safe side.”

She explained that several stones have fractured in one of the four pinnacles of the tower.

An initial survey suggests the pinnacle will not fall any time soon, but we cannot take any chances,” added Rev Ralph.

“In the meantime our regular church events have been switched to Carhampton Village Hall, and our active bell-ringing and hand bell ringers are practising at Dunster or Withycombe Parish Churches instead. “

“As a keen ringer myself and vicar of our magnificent parish church, I am very anxious to get the repairs carried out as soon as possible,” she added.

The insurance company handling church repairs have indicated initially that the weather damage to the pinnacle will be covered.

“Now we are waiting for reports from our loss adjusters architects and engineers to give us the go ahead.” Rev Ralph  concluded.