CONSERVATIONISTS have launched a fundraising appeal to protect Oxfordshire churches from thieves who steal lead from the roofs.

Iconic churches in the county are being targeted by thieves and the Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust wants all churches in diocese to have roof alarms fitted as a deterrent.

The trust said since the middle of the year, 18 village churches have had lead ripped from their roofs by criminal gangs, with some places of worship being targeted more than once.

It has now launched the Alarms for Churches Appeal to help villages and local communities install alarm systems to protect their church roofs as quickly as possible.

The appeal aims to cover half the cost involved in installing an electronic alarm system, and is offering to pay up to £2,500 per church.

OHCT’s trustees are guaranteeing to pay this for the first 12 churches to apply, and are appealing urgently to the public for more funds so that all the most vulnerable churches can be helped.

Trust chairman Basil Eastwood said: "If a suitable alarm is not installed, most church insurance policies will only pay the first £7,500 of a claim when the lead is stolen.

"Churches and chapels may feel they cannot afford the cost of these alarms, but if they are attacked local people are faced with massive repair bills."

The lead is not worth enormous sums, but local communities are now facing months or years of fundraising for repairs, which may well be as much as £100,000 per church.

Churches at Ewelme, Bampton, Kirtlington and Great Tew are among those to have suffered.

Some churches have already fitted roof alarms, including St Kenelm’s Church at Enstone, near Chipping Norton, where there was an attempted break-in earlier this year.

Thieves set off sirens, strobe lighting and a very loud pre-recorded 'Voice of God' telling them that the authorities had been informed and that they should leave at once.

But there are still many churches and chapels of all denominations which do not have roof alarms despite having significant amounts of lead or copper on their roofs.

The theft of lead from the roof of St Mary the Virgin in Ewelme, near Wallingford, a Grade I-listed building which dates back to 1434, was only discovered after a storm on September 15.

Churchwarden Chips Gell, 81, discovered the theft after asking workmen to find out how water was getting into the church.

Mr Gell said: "We have already applied for a grant for a roof alarm and hope we are successful.

"In the meantime, we have taken special measures to make sure the church is more secure, and the damage to the roof has now been repaired on a temporary basis."

The lead on the roof at St Mary's was SmartWater marked, which could help it to be traced in future, but that did not deter the thieves.

OHCT was established in 1964 and gives some £200,000 a year in grants to Oxfordshire churches and chapels of all Christian denominations to help with essential repairs and facilities to improve buildings for community groups.

For further information visit ohct.org.uk.