When
that first Mass in our parish was said in a house on
Trelawney Avenue on 29th
August 1955
those attending were already looking forward to their new
church being built. |
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They did not stand still - and so Holy Family
church was opened on 2nd February 1957.
Since that time there has not been much significant work
done on the building and as we approach the 50th
anniversary of the opening of the church it would seem a
good time to ponder on what might be done.
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I think the first
thing we must look at is the entrance to the church. Most
people in the parish would agree that the present porch
(or “narthex”, as it should be called) is both
small and unwelcoming.
Buildings speak of their users and we are not a small and
unwelcoming community.
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The
church walls and ceiling are dirty
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The lighting
and public address systems are poor.
The heating system is a health and safety hazard,
especially for small children.
The porch area is small and unwelcoming.
Funeral and wedding cars often have to arrive in the bus
stop
We have no permanent baptismal font.
Our altar furniture (altar, lectern, tabernacle) is not
unified in appearance, materials or decoration |
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need more beauty in our church |
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We will build a new narthex (porch).
It will be large, bright and welcoming.
Entrances to the church will be on the side and there
will be a covered space for wedding and funeral cars to
arrive.
There will be a disabled toilet.
There will be a stone baptismal font placed at the
entrance to our church so that each time we enter we are
reminded that we are the baptised.
There will be new lighting, a new carpet
and a much improved microphone system. |
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A new altar, lectern,
tabernacle and plinth and a new priests chair will be
built in the style of the baptismal font.
The steps to the altar will be redesigned.
An image of the risen Christ (in wood) has been
commissioned for the space behind the altar.
A place of honour and devotion to Mary will be developed
where the present Confessional box
is to be found. |
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All
this work will (obviously) be very expensive.
We have sold St. Stephen's church in Iver and we are able
to use the profits that the parish club has made over the
past few years. |
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This
gives us about half of the money need.
We can pay the rest off in about 10 years if our parish
collection
continues to be healthy.
There will be disruption and we will have to move out of
the church for a number of months.
Our weekend Masses will be in Holy Family School. Visit
our website for updates. |
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WHEN WILL IT BE FINISHED? |
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We
have invited our Bishop to come on the
2nd. February, 2007 to bless our Church -
the
50th. anniversary of it's opening.
In The Meantime :-
be
calm, be excited.....
you deserve a clean and beautiful Church.
leave this page |
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