The first Catholic church to be built in Wythenshawe is to close – in its 75th anniversary year.
St John Fisher and Thomas More, in Benchill, will shut in September, devastating parishioners.
Church leaders say they share their sadness, but are faced with little option because of spiralling repair costs.
They were told it would cost £750,000 to fix the leaking roof and can not afford the bill given the economic climate.
Around 500 people have joined a Facebook group opposing the closure and the parish has been inundated with offers of support.
People pledged £30,000 within a fortnight of rumours emerging that the church could be under threat but this was not enough to save it.
Fr Michael Gannon, leader of Wythenshawe Catholic Team Ministry, said: “This decision follows a lengthy review which concluded that the condition of the church and the costs involved both immediately and in the long-term future were beyond the resources currently available or likely to be available in the years to come.
“Likewise, the Diocese does not have the resources that would be required for the building and maintenance of a replacement church.”
The final mass will be celebrated on September 12, and people are then expected to worship at St Anthony’s Church, in Woodhouse Park, Wythenshawe.
Parishioner Jill Lingard said churchgoers were heartbroken at the news.
She said: “It’s very sad because some people have worshipped at the church all their lives.”
The Diocese of Shrewsbury, which runs the church, said in a statement: “The diocese shares the sadness of the parishioners.”
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Why doesnt the richest religeon (which happens to be the catholic one) put its hand in its vestments and pay for it,after all its one of its own? Dont hold your breath.
We mustn't forget that religions are businesses and just like other businesses times are hard.
If there was a god they wouldn't have to worry.
[quote name=Bogey Roller, Manchester]We mustn't forget that religions are businesses and just like other businesses times are hard.
If there was a god they wouldn't have to worry.[/quote]
If there was a god they WOULD have to worry. Vengence is mine said the Lord. And wheres all the cash you made in MY name...`cmon stop crying where IS it.
The Church has the money. If it's too tight to pay, they'll see it sold to a developer and turned into flats (.......sorry, apartments)
750k!?! You could BUILD two churches for that! I'm sure there are enough builders in the area who are, in this recession, hungry for work that 30k is more then enough to do a good job.
Spot on. £750k sounds like they need to shop around a bit more!!
Floored and sold to a developer? Trust me this site is not exactly Mayfair.
Maybe if they hadn't had to pay so much out in compensation recently they could afford to repair their churches.
I'm not remotely religious - quite the opposite in fact - but do appreciate church architecture, and frankly, judging by the look of this church (?) demolition would be no crime..
Yeah, it's not a great looking church but it deserves to be saved.
There are many churches in Wythenshawe and they played a major role in the community especially in the 50's and 60's, every effort should be made to save these landmarks.
750,000 pounds to fix a roof!!!?? somebody is having a laugh....surely?
Shrewsbury Dicoese's Accounts, available on their website, say they've got £12m in the bank! Notwithstanding that the repairs should be much cheaper than 750k, surely they've got enough money to save this church???