An unholy dispute over the rights to a rooftop section of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre could bring the entire structure tumbling down, destroying Christendom's holiest site.

While renovations are needed across the Church, the small Deir Al-Sultan monastery on a part of the Church's rooftop has reached an "emergency state", according to engineers who completed an evaluation earlier this month.

The Times has learnt that the two chapels and 26 tiny rooms which comprise the monastery were pronounced in dire need of reinforcement in 2004. They have since deteriorated to the point where engineers now fear they will crash through the roof and into the Church, venerated by millions of Christians as the site of Jesus' crucifixion and burial.