CHURCH leaders want to replace a lead roof with a stainless steel alternative after it was twice targeted by thieves.An application has been lodged by St Mary's Church, in Wistaston, to overhaul the roof at the Grade II listed building.
Thieves targeted the historic church in August and October last year, when varying amounts of lead were stolen from the main building.
The incidents also caused the roof to leak.
Now proposals have been submitted to planners at Cheshire East Council to install stainless steel.
And wardens at the church say they are already planning fund-raising initiatives for the venture.
Mike Carter, of Wistaston, who has been a church warden for two years, said: "A lot of lead was stolen during the incident in August. It appeared that parts of the roof had been rolled back.
"We reported both thefts to the police and the details also went to the insurance. But there is only so much the insurance will pay, and we know we will have to raise some cash for the rest. At the moment we don't know how much it will cost."
The popular church attracts a congregation of about 100 people for its Sunday services.
It also hosts a range of community activities in its hall, including a youth club.
Mr Carter added: "We had a new driveway installed and the community were very good in helping fund-raise for that."
The current church was rebuilt in 1827 and the choir vestry followed in 1905.
Alex Percival, of Wistaston, an assistant church warden, is surprised thieves would target a place of worship.
The 76-year-old retired production controller said: "It is a shame that we need to focus our fund-raising efforts on this when we could have used money to develop other things we do at the church."
Richard Barr, aged 41, of Wistaston, a commercial manager who is a member of the church's premises management committee, said: "There is no point replacing the roof with like-for-like material if we are going to be targeted. We will ensure the replacement is sympathetic to the building."
In a statement, Astbury-based architect and historic buildings consultant John Carter said: "It is proposed to replace flashings and flat roof weatherings in materials which have little or no intrinsic value, but maintain an adequate weatherproof performance."
Last month the wardens at St Mary's Catholic Church, in Ford Green Road, Smallthorne, had applied for permission to replace the building's copper roof with a non-metal alternative after thieves targeted the site.
Planners at Stoke-on-Trent City Council rubber-stamped the proposals.