Work under way on new church (From Warrington Guardian)

Work under way on new church

7:50am Wednesday 25th November 2009

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IT is not common practice for the foundation stone on a new development to be blessed.

But as work gets under way to build the first new Catholic church the town has seen in many years that is just what happened last week.

Parish priest Father Peter Montgomery said: “It’s been a while since there’s been a new church built in the diocese, it’s quite a rare event. It’s taken the generosity of the church community.

The as yet unnamed church is being built on Knutsford Road, Latchford and the blessing of the foundation stone was conducted by Monsignor John McManus who represented the Bishop of Shrewsbury, which diocese is behind the new church.

Mayor and mayoress of Warrington Clr Brian and Irina Axcell joined in the celebrations last Tuesday along with pupils from St Augustine’s and Our Lady’s Catholic primary schools and Cardinal Newman Catholic High School who sung the aptly titled hymn ‘Let us build a house where love can dwell’.

Father Montgomery said: “It was a very happy occasion and it was lovely to have the children from the two catholic schools and pupils from Cardinal Newman Catholic High School there too.”

The new church will offer the Catholic community closer links to central Latchford and offer bright modern facilities for church users and the wider community as they look to open the doors during the week to a variety of community groups.

“We regularly get about 350 people coming to church on a Sunday, it’s vibrant,” added Father Montgomery. “So we are making a bright and new place that younger families might feel more attracted to with better facilities for mums, dads and children.”

With the help of the community who have helped during the disruption to the Catholic churches in the area the new church will also make access easier for all.

“It’s one of my hopes that people won’t have to struggle to get in because old churches can be difficult to get inside for people with wheelchairs and pushchairs,” he said.

Construction work continues on the church and it is expected to welcome parishioners early next summer.

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