St Mary’s Church at Long Sutton carried out emergency works after a 5ft roof timber fell 60ft and crashed into a pew.
Father Jonathan Sibley said fortunately the timber fell on a Sunday afternoon, but it could have easily hit someone had it been during a service.
“It made a nasty mess of the pew,” he said.
Cedar Steeplejacks, who had been called in to replace wooden louvres in the tower, put up scaffolding inside the church to replace disintegrating Victorian nails in the roof timbers and also replaced a 4ft stonework section of the 90ft high spire, which was loose.
Father Jonathan said: “The church is now safer than it’s been for a hundred years.”
Work to make the church safe means St Mary’s is fundraising for an additional £28,000 on top of the £12,000 bill it expected.
• Time Team’s Francis Pryor will give a talk at the church at midday on Saturday, February 22 and tickets including lunch cost £8.50. Please call 01406 362750 or 01406 362033.
Donations towards the cost of repairs are also welcome.