Flood damaged church re-opens its doors

A flood damaged church has re-opened its doors to worshippers - more than 19 months after the Boxing Day floods of 2015.

St Michael’s Church in Mytholmroyd, near Hebden Bridge, held its first Sunday service since the floods this morning.

The church was flooded to a depth of four feet and has been undergoing extensive restoration ever since. All the pews were removed to safe storage and the wooden floor was replaced before the pews were re-installed.

The church council took advantage of the situation to install underfloor heating and to make the building more user friendly by creating special pews where wheelchairs and prams can be accommodated and removing all steps within the nave which now has a completely flat floor.

The church will be rededicated later in the autumn, with the Bishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, paying a visit in November.