Churches are spared axe in major shake-up

CLOSURE-THREATENED Catholic churches in Rochdale look set to have been spared the axe following an apparent U-turn by faith leaders.

Last year, it was announced Rochdale could lose two of its Catholic churches following a shakeup of parishes sparked by falling numbers of priests and parishioners.

Plans put forward by the Bishop of Salford John Arnold in July included reducing the number of parishes within the Deanery of St Therese of Lisieux, which covers Rochdale and Bury, from 20 to 11 and cutting the number of churches from 24 to 19.

It was proposed that one church from Sacred Heart, Kingsway, St Mary’s in Littleborough and St Patrick’s in Foxholes would close, with the remaining churches forming a new parish.

The same situation also applied to Holy Family in Kirkholt, St Gabriel and the Angels in Castleton and St John the Baptist in the town centre.

St Vincent’s in Norden was unaffected by the initial proposals.

But now it has been announced none of these churches will close instead, Sacred Heart will join with Holy Family in Kirkholt while St Mary’s would amalgamate with St Patrick’s in Foxholes.

And there is to be further consultation on the future of St Gabriel’s and St John’s.

Options include the churches staying as they are, St John’s amalgamating with St Vincent’s and the parish of St Gabriel’s being split between Heywood and Middleton parishes or joining part of it with Holy Family.

St Anslem’s in Whitworth was also under threat of closure, but it has also been spared the axe and will remain as a joint parish with St Mary’s Church in Bacup.

When the plans were first unveiled Bishop Arnold said that churches needed a sufficient size of congregation to make them viable in the long-term.

He added: “At the same time we need to look at how we can serve these missionary parishes with fewer priests in the years ahead.

“I understand that where churches are closing this will be met with initial sadness from parishioners.

“But I am sure that these feelings can be overcome as our new communities come together in prayer.”

The Diocese said the changes are intended to give priests more time to ●●Rochdale churches (clockwise from top left) Sacred Heart, Holy Family, St Mary’s, St Gabriel’s, St Anselm’s, St Vincent’s, St John’s and St Patrick’s have escaped closure perform their pastoral duties, including the celebration of Mass, ministering to the sick, elderly and infirm and working in schools and colleges with young people.

It added that more than 2,000 people responded to the original consultation, with largely positive responses.