Nothing short of a miracle...

BRIGHT outlook . . . the church’s future is now secure

“EVERY prayer has been answered,” says Brian Greenwood, former warden of over 20 years at St Mary’s church in Greenfield.

The scaffolding and the sheets are down, the walls are crisply painted and stunning sunshine illuminates the newly restored towering church window.

It is the culmination of four years of dedication from church leaders, one that has seen a landmark project to put the beat back into the heart of an iconic place of worship.

It hasn’t been an easy road since the mission started four years ago.

“I used to monitor a big crack as it spread from one side of the end wall to the other,” said Brian, now 73.

“Pieces started falling off the tower, eventually people would have had to stop coming because it would have been dangerous.”

Forward-thinking reverend Jean Barton had only just joined the church in 2007 when it seemed its days could be numbered.

At the time, the diocese was looking to close a number of churches and the crumbling St Mary’s seemed like the perfect candidate. Something had to be done, and the loyal congregation was sure of that.

Knocked back by English Heritage for the first grant application, the dreams of the newly-formed renovation committee members eventually came true in the form of a £500,000 grant.

The mammoth task of completely rebuilding one end of the church wall, replacing the roof, securing the spire and painstakingly cleaning the stunning west window began.

“People were thrilled when we got the grant,” said Rev Barton. “It was difficult to fully appreciate the significance — it saved the church. But costs started mounting.”

With an original estimated timescale of 10 years, it seemed the road to recovery would be a long one, but what happened next would astonish even the most optimistic of churchgoers — the community came out in force. Several substantial individual donations boosted the fund’s total, while volunteers opened up a charity shop in Chew Valley Road especially for the cause. Since summer, 2009, the shop has raised £18,000.

Meanwhile, hardened churchgoers took to the dust-sheet covered pews and sat under scaffolding for their services.

The setting sun looks stunning as it shines through the carefully restored stained-glassed window depicting Mary and baby Jesus.

Six years ahead of schedule, due to running three phases at the same time, the new St Mary’s will officially be launched in all its splendour during the Saddleworth Festival of the Arts from June 4.

With a stunning floral festival and performance from Chetham’s School of Music, the festival marks exactly four years since the restoration began.

And a New Beginnings flower festival will take place from Thursday, June 9, to Sunday, June 12.

“The floral festival is what it says — new beginnings. It really is, it’s a new era but this is just the start,” added Rev Barton.