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Fylde's Catholic church closure battle
OUR church is NOT closing. Fighting talk as up to 60 parishioners meet for Mass at one of 14 local catholic churches likely to shut on Sundays under a mission review.
St John Southworth, North Drive, Cleveleys, was built in the 1970s as an optimistic church responded to new housing.
Page 83 of a 138 mission review document holds its future. Under final proposals passed to Bishop Patrick O'Donoghue, it could merge with bigger, traditional St Teresa's, St George's Lane, closer to Cleveleys centre.
What do you think about the plans? Is your local church affected? Leave your comments below.
Within two years, it will become a super parish which could end Sunday mass at St John's unless parishioners, priest, or bishop, or "pastoral sustainability" ensure otherwise.
Too many ifs, buts and maybes. The pity is this is not some costly ill attended iconic edifice such as the biggest heritage casualty of the review: St Walburge's, Preston.
If faith can do it, parishioners are confident they can move mountains. Their priest, Father Gerry Dunne, who's given 50 years' service to God, vows to continue after retirement if his bishops, for two currently serve the diocese, need him.
Yet the future is uncertain for 14 of the Fylde's churches and chapels set for change, some sooner than later.
In Thornton, St Nicholas Owen may cease Sunday worship after a merger, on the same time scale, with Sacred Heart.
St Nick's resident priest, respected theologian Canon Tom Dakin, is in his 80s and still going strong.
Like Fr Dunne he refuses to discuss the issue with the Press, yet raises pertinent points, such as overseas recruitment of priests,on his website.
At St John Southworth, the strength of feeling is evident in the pride and passion of a group who challenge my "intrusion" in their church after mass.
One parishioner tells me to "just do your job, it's what you're here for." Yet I'm there in my own time, as a lapsed Catholic, and this church, with its light bright atmosphere, is close to my home.
One parishioner, to whom I speak before the service starts, admits: "We're not just sad but mad about it. It's not easy to get to St Teresa's, we don't all have cars, buses aren't good, and I have emphysema. My daughter lives in Hambleton and faces similar problems there. It's upsetting."
jacqui.morley@blackpoolgazette.co.uk
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