Chester Diocese
News Item
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A big refurbishment and development for St Bede’s in Birkenhead
AN old chapel and parish hall in one of the most deprived parts of our Diocese has been transformed into a complex of bright, practical rooms with modern facilities. The £250,000 revamp of St Bede’s, Birkenhead, has been achieved after much hard work by parishioners in gaining grants from Church and philanthropic bodies. The ‘new’ St Bede’s was officially opened earlier in the summer by Birkenhead MP and social reforms campaigner Frank Field. The Bishop of Birkenhead, the Rt Revd Keith Sinclair, and civic dignitaries from Wirral Council also attended the opening party, as did parishioners and representatives of community groups who will use the facilities at the Upton Road, Claughton, premises.
St Bede’s now has a new kitchen and toilets (including facilities for disabled users), a new meeting room, store rooms, new heating and a new and more accessible entrance lobby. The Vicar of St Bede and chair of St Bede’s Management Committee, the Revd David Lamb said: “We believe St Bede’s can be a real heart for our community and a practical way of putting our Christian faith into action. “We want to thank trusts such as The Veolia Environmental Trust, the Church Urban Fund, the Clothworkers Foundation and Garfield Weston, who have all given us generous support. “Most of all, we want to thank localpeople who have given time and money to see this vision become a reality.” • The worship space at St Bede’s has been retained under the refurbishments and further improvements to the complex are planned.
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Bishop Keith (left) with the Revd David Lamb and Frank Field MP at the official opening of St Bede’s
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