New chapter in the history of the 118-years old St Andrew's Church

Photo: Peter Shrigley

Wider Welcome Parish Room at St Andrew's Church, Dearnley & Smithy Bridge

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A new chapter in the history of the 118-years old St Andrew's Church at Dearnley, Littleborough will be written this weekend with the official opening of its new £115,000 community facilities by the Bishop of Middleton, the Rt Rev Mark Davies.

Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk and Littleborough Training Brass Band will also be in attendance when Bishop Mark cuts the tape at 10.30am on Saturday 14 December.

The Rev Canon Sharon Jones has extended an open invitation to everyone and has asked regular worshippers at St Andrew's to go along with family members, friends, neighbours and work colleagues.

She added: "This is the start of a whole new adventure in the life of the church. As its name clearly indicates this 'Wider Welcome' project is designed to make the church and its facilities more welcoming and more accessible to everybody in the parish.

"People who haven't been to St Andrew's for some time will see a huge difference."

The celebrations continue at 6pm on Saturday evening with the appearance in concert for the first time at St Andrew's of the renowned Maranatha Gospel Choir. Admission is free and refreshments will be available.

On Sunday, at 9.30am, there will be a celebration Sung Eucharist, headed by Bishop Mark, followed by a parish brunch in the new facility.

Congregations at St Andrew's have increased significantly in recent years and on the back of that church officers realised there was an urgent need for bigger and better community facilities.

A new kitchen was installed and exterior work was completed on the approaches to the main doors to provide easy access for the disabled, elderly and infirm.

Then, three years ago, fund raising began to enable work to start on the next and biggest phase of the overall redevelopment at the west end of the building, first opened to serve the Anglican community of Dearnley and Smithy Bridge in 1895.

Working in close liaison with the parochial church council and with diocesan authorities, a project team led by its chairman, Peter Shrigley, has been responsible for steering through the phase three operation from start to finish.

Major reconstruction work has taken place to extend the parish room into the main worship area, to install facilities for the disabled and to incorporate sliding glass doors separating community and worship areas.

Structural work has also been completed for the provision of a new first-floor facility - accessed by lift as well as stairs - to be opened at a later date.

Said Mr Shrigley: "The work has been completed very tastefully and to a high standard. It wouldn't have been possible without the support and backing of members of our congregation who will, I am sure, be very proud of their collective achievements when they see the new facility up and running for the first time this weekend."