West Cumbria Church Closed After Storm Boelo Causes Major Damage

A church in West Cumbria has been closed after sustaining major damage during Storm Boelo, which brought powerful winds and severe weather to the region.

St Paul’s Church, located on Church Road in Seaton, near Workington, has been declared off-limits to the public while the damage is assessed and the necessary arrangements are made for repairs.

Church officials have asked residents and visitors to stay away from the building until further notice. Services scheduled for Sunday, October 25, were cancelled following the damage.

Repair work cannot begin until the church’s insurers have been notified, meaning the building is likely to remain closed while the next steps are determined.

Built between 1881 and 1883 at a cost of £2,052, St Paul’s is a Victorian Gothic stone church originally designed to accommodate around 240 people. It was established to serve the growing industrial and mining population in the area.

The church initially operated as a chapel of ease for the medieval parish church of St Peter’s in nearby Camerton before becoming an independent parish in July 1987.

Storm Boelo has caused widespread disruption across Cumbria, with fallen trees, damaged buildings, power cuts and hazardous road conditions reported in several communities.

People have also been advised to avoid St Michael’s Church in Workington because of falling masonry, highlighting the continuing risks posed by storm damage to buildings.

Residents are urged to respect safety restrictions and follow official advice while inspections and recovery efforts continue across West Cumbria.

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