Church reopens after two years of restoration

A FULL congregation for yesterday’s first service, and, right, Archdeacon of Rochdale, Cherry Vann and Father Nick Smeeton

An Oldham church congregation has returned to worship in its historic church after a two-year restoration project.

Yesterday’s family communion at St Stephen and All Martyrs Church was the first service since the building was closed by a wall collapse. The displaced congregation took up residence at the neighbouring Higginshaw ARLFC rugby clubhouse while the damage was corrected.

Father Nick Smeeton said: “It is fantastic to be back in the church today. The church has worked so hard to stay in this community and grow. To give the building back to residents is just what was needed.”

The Grade II listed church, built in 1872, was damaged in September 2012 when the south side window wall collapsed.

The church received a £178,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund for repairs, plus a Cornerstone Grant of £40,000 from the National Churches Trust.