Celebrations light up the skies

SPECTACULAR . . . fireworks light up the night sky

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SPECTACULAR fireworks and rousing classical music marked a church milestone in style.

St James’s Church, celebrated its 180th anniversary on Sunday with priests from across the country visiting.

The vicar, the Rev Paul Plumpton, arranged a concelebrated mass which included Mozart’s “Missa Brevis” in C major, and William Walton’s “Te Deum”.

Afterwards the skies were lit up with fireworks as the occasion ended with a bang.

Construction of the Victorian church, in Barry Street, Oldham, began in 1827, costing £9,651, and it was consecrated in 1829.

But after the Second World War, St James’s began to decay, and by the 1970s it had been considered for closure.

Since Mr Plumpton arrived, 30 years ago in October, the church has been transformed with more than £1 million spent on major indoor and outdoor restoration, including re-roofing, dry rot treatment, a new kitchen, electrical rewiring, work on the church bell and work on the tower and clock face.