Church forced to lease club to fund new roof
A CHURCH is having to lease out its social club to raise money for a new roof.
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in Oakham needs to spend between 50,000 and 60,000 on a new roof.
So far fundraising efforts have generated 20,000. But the church has opted to sacrifice its social club to raise the rest of the cash.
The club, in Mill Street is the church's former home. It was last used in December and could now be transformed into a shop.
Monsignor Tom McGovern, priest in charge at St Joseph's, in Station Road, said: "It was originally a Roman Catholic chapel dating back to the last century.
"Towards the end of the 1960s it became too small for the number of people using the church. The then parish priest Michael Lynch decided we needed larger premises and then with help of his parishioners purchased the site on Station Road.
"The roof was what we could afford 30 years ago and has now come to an end of its use and we have to do something about it. The parishioners have been informed about it. Although it will cost a lot of money, hopefully we will be able to do something about it in the near future, preserving the future of St Joseph's serving the Catholic community in Rutland for at least the next 100 years."
The social club was used as a bar as well as hosting social and fundraising events. The ground floor has an open plan bar and lounge and store rooms. Upstairs there are toilets, a kitchen, a main function room and bar and store room.
The Nottingham Roman Catholic Diocese has instructed an Nottingham estate agency Spencer Birch to let the social centre for 17,500 per year.
It is being marketed for commercial, leisure or community use and is not considered suitable for use as a pub, nightclub or hot food takeaway restaurant.
Anyone who would like to send a donation towards the church roof can send a cheque made payable to St Josephs RCP to Mr Terry Slattery, Chairman of the Finance Committee, St Josephs, Station Road, Oakham, LE15 6QU.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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