£1.3m appeal to save Peterborough church

Published by Keith Morris at December 16, 2021

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St Peter and All Souls church in Peterborough needs to raise £1.3 million to deal with major subsidence issues which are threatening the church structure.

The Park Road church has been at the centre of the community throughout its 125-year history – but now it is in desperate need of repair. Clergy are appealing for help to raise funds to repair the building.

The Dean, Fr Jeffrey Downie, on behalf of the Diocese of East Anglia, said work needed to be carried out as soon as possible. He said: “The story of the structural problems of St Peter and All Souls church in a long one and a known one, but it has reached the point now when it must be resolved.

“We may think here about our own sacred space in this church which is important in our lives and in our community. Saving this sacred space will be costly, it will be difficult, it will be disruptive, but it can be done and it will be done.

“It’s been done in other places, and we can do it, too. I say we ‑ in particular, rather than ‑ you, because all Catholics, all the parishes in the deanery are with you supporting you in this mission to save the Mother Church building for the Catholic community of Peterborough, for the surrounding towns. The funding, though daunting, will come.”

Peterborough MP Paul Bristow visited the church in early December, and backed the appeal to save the church saying: “We can, and we will, and we must,” save the church.

He said: “The church is at the heart of the Catholic community in our city. As well as English – we have Eastern European, Indian, African, Irish, Filipino and East Timorese Catholic communities in Peterborough.

“But the 125-year-old church walls are falling down. They have been temporarily bolstered but need expensive and extensive work. To lose the church would be unthinkable.

“We can do this! And I promise to stand with the church and the Catholic community as we try to raise these funds.”

A fundraising appeal has been launched to help fund the repairs.

For more information visit https://www.stpeterandallsouls.org.uk/

Pictured above is MP for Peterborough Paul Bristow with Parish Priest Fr Adam Sowa and parishioners at All Soul’s church.