End of an era for historic Blackburn Sunday school (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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End of an era for historic Blackburn Sunday school
2:50pm Sunday 19th October 2008 in News
A CONGREGATION met for the final time at the site of a 110-year-old Sunday school before moving to make way for a £6.8million community development.
The Ragged School, in Bent Street, Blackburn, has been deemed as “no longer fit for purpose” and is set to be demolished.
The site, along with other land off Montague Street, will be used to create a development for the elderly and people with dementia, along with community facilities.
A multi-faith resource centre will be integral to the design and will incorporate original features from the Ragged School, including stained glass windows and a war memorial.
The Ragged School was set up as a Sunday School in 1881 by James Dixon and John Walkden and moved to the present premises in 1897. The adult congregation which met there later became part of the United Reformed Church.
The congregation met for the last time at the site at 3pm yesterday It will be temporarily re-homed at Spring Bank Court, an elderly people’s care centre, while building work goes ahead.
Local pastor Alan Barnes, who has led the church congregation at The Ragged School for more than 20 years, said “There have been tears and some sadness associated with leaving the building, but it is an exciting opportunity for us. Practical Christian service, with children and adults, has been of paramount importance to us in the past — and it still will be in the future. ”
Leader of the United Reformed Church for Blackburn and for North West England, the Rev Richard Church, added: “This offers tremendous possibilities — both for our congregation, and for the area which the church serves.
“When building work is complete we want not only to worship there, but also to work with others, to continue our tradition of service to the area”.
Comments(12)
ganja man
says...
4:25pm Sun 19 Oct 08
Lets hope that others are not attracted to this story for the wrong reasons.
We know who they are. Will they use their names, i wonder.
What a great example of positive work being carried out to help the elderly who sadly are too often neglected.
Frank Jr
says...
4:43pm Sun 19 Oct 08
ganja man wrote:The site, along with other land off Montague Street, will be used to create a development for the elderly and people with dementia, along with community facilities.
Frank Jr read the article again, then again, then again, it will provide clues that even you can decipher. Lets hope that others are not attracted to this story for the wrong reasons. We know who they are. Will they use their names, i wonder. What a great example of positive work being carried out to help the elderly who sadly are too often neglected.
A multi-faith resource centre will be integral to the design and will incorporate original features from the Ragged School, including stained glass windows and a war memorial.
For now only on paper !
ganja man
says...
5:08pm Sun 19 Oct 08
Whatever has been designed and stated "on paper" will be built.
Despite your best efforts you cannot denigrate this project and its merits.
Better luck to you next time!!!
Au revoir, mon ami!!
ganja man
says...
5:13pm Sun 19 Oct 08
where are your enlightened comments on this, your "speciality topic"!!!
Frank Jr
says...
6:04pm Sun 19 Oct 08
holsten pils
says...
8:58pm Sun 19 Oct 08
Akki
says...
10:22pm Sun 19 Oct 08
A Game of Blue & White Halves
says...
12:34am Mon 20 Oct 08
Akki wrote:On the contrary, Akki, the indeginous population of these Isles do worship religiously - and therefore, Frank from Gt Harwood and & his likeminded friends on these pages, would welcome the building of these places of divine-like reverence.
Lets be honest guys if people actually attended church regularly there would be a need to close them or they would build new ones in place
Churches you wonder? Hell no, pubs - with 24 hour openings no less!
fluffball
says...
5:38pm Mon 20 Oct 08
ganja man
says...
6:19pm Mon 20 Oct 08
read this above post again, then again, then again so even you can digest its contents.
Come OUT OF YOUR CAVE MORE OFTEN!!!
holsten pils
says...
6:47pm Tue 21 Oct 08
holsten pils
says...
6:47pm Tue 21 Oct 08
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