The Keralan Catholic church in Preston has announced major repair work to the roof of a city church.
AdvertisementSt Ignatius Catholic Church, off Meadow Street, is a listed building and now owned by the Syro-Malabar Catholic community.
They have secured £99,900 towards repairing the roof of the St Ignatius Square building.
Since it was transferred the congregation has grown to 250 people. It is the first church in Britain to be operated by the Keralan community.
The Bishop of Lancaster The Rt Rev Michael G Campbell said: “I am so very pleased with the awarding of this grant which is the fruit of so much hard work and planning – all for the good of St Ignatius’ Church and the Syro-Malabar Parish of St Alphonsa at St Ignatius. Sincere thanks, of course, go to The Listed Places of Worship – Roof Repair Fund.
“I congratulate everyone involved in the application process and especially Parish Priest Father Mathew Jacob Choorapoikayil for all the work involved. Of course, the work for the complete regeneration of St Ignatius Church and presbytery goes on, under God, and with our full support.”
Read more: Emmanuel Church in Plungington to be closed and sold
The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church has more than 4 million members worldwide and traces its routes back to 52AD when St Thomas the Apostle reached the shores of Kerala, India.
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