AN ancient riverside church has been hit by flooding for the fourth time in a year - but volunteers breathed a huge sigh of relief when they found that most of the building had escaped by inches.

But with more rain forecast and the River Wye still running high, worshippers and helpers at Dixton Church in Monmouth are keeping their fingers crossed for the rest of the week, and are appealing for more people to join the recently-formed Friends group.

Funds are urgently needed to preserve the roof of the nave from more damage from wet weather and possible collapse, with the latest deluge the third flood in the last two months, coming exactly a year after Storm Dennis left the church six foot deep in water.

The churchyard at St Peter’s, which dates back to Saxon times, was a foot deep in water at the start of the week with the access road completely submerged.

Helpers had just cleaned out the muddy mess left from flooding at the end of January, which followed another flood that got inside over Christmas, and they feared the worst again.

But Andy Smith said that “thankfully” this time only the base of the bell tower had suffered minor flooding.

“The floor looks a little grubby and dusty – but pretty dry. We must have been within a few centimetres of muddy entry, so lucky this time!” he said after wading through the water to the church on Tuesday.

Now the congregation are appealing for more ‘Friends of Dixton Church’ to help secure the future of the Grade II-listed riverside place of worship, where parts of the nave are thought to date back more than 1,000 years.

Though spared yet another major clean up inside, the churchyard, which includes a Grade-II listed cross, was covered just over three weeks since the last clear up, and the bore hole supplying the church with clean water has become silted up with flood mud. Exactly a year ago last week, the church was hit by the worst floods since 1947, only a day after decoration work in the chancel had been completed as part of a major £130,000 renovation project.

Rev Penny Powdrill said at the time: “It’s such a mess inside. Most of the hymn and prayer books were so damaged we couldn’t save them.

“The chancel arch has plates recording previous flood levels and this was one inch below the highest in 1947.”

Then the church, which is on the Wye Valley Walk route and in the AONB, was hit again by flooding on Christmas Eve, at the end of last month and now this week.

Friends spokesperson Ros Robertson said: “After last year’s devastating floods, we’ve been hit three times in the last two months, which is getting ridiculous.

“It’s so disappointing. The ground is so saturated, and the water comes up through the floor. No sooner have we cleared up from the last floods, but we’re surrounded again.

“The Wye is moving very fast and if the Monnow backs up we could be in trouble again. The Friends are on river watch and may well move more pews to safety or at least stack them high. All other items are stored above in the gallery.

“There is a distinct possibility that Dixton could flood again due to excessive rainfall and sodden ground and should the water come in later this week we will need as many hands as possible.”

She added: “Any further wet weather and more flooding and the nave roof could collapse, and then another historic building would be closed and possibly lost for future generations.”

An appeal a year ago following the Storm Dennis flood saw a small band of helpers come forward to help repair the serious damage, who have been undertaking overdue maintenance work ever since, but she says they could do with more to share the load.

The origins of the whitewashed church go so far back in time that it was referred to as an ‘old church’ in the Book of Llandaff in 735 AD.

In the 19th century, the vicar and some members of the congregation still rowed across the river from Hadnock to attend services there.

Although situated in Wales, like its partner church across the river in nearby Wyesham, it is actually part of the Diocese of Hereford and the Church of England, and welcomed the first ordained woman vicar in Wales, Rev Jean Tunnicliffe, back in the 1990s.

Ros added: “This small church is in a quiet riverside setting just outside Monmouth in the AONB and has a long history and is popular with people of all faiths, or none.

“Some of these people joined the first volunteers, sharing skills and time willingly. Some provided financial support and all shared a desire to help ensure that this historic building in its idyllic setting survives for future generations to enjoy.

“Dixton Church and its graveyard have many visitors. Some worship here, others use the site as a focus for calm reflection. Some enthuse over its historic and archaeological value while others just welcome Dixton’s eclectic atmosphere as a place to rest during riverside walks.

“The recent memorials in the graveyard bear witness to the spiritual relevance that the place still has for many local people. Its history suggests that this has been the case for more than 1500 years.

“It is easy to think of it as a place that has always been there and will always be there. But, like many rural churches with declining congregations, the future of Dixton Church is not guaranteed and without local support the building will inevitably fall into ruin.

“To try to ensure that Dixton Church has a secure future we have started a more formal ‘Friends of Dixton Church’ Group, who will continue simple maintenance tasks and also plan fund raising events that will allow the roof of the main building to eventually be replaced.”

A new ‘Guide to Dixton Church’ has also been produced and is available from Ros or at the church itself.

To help ensure that it is there for future generations, contact her by email on [email protected] or call 01600 715781.