PLANS have been unveiled for a new Church and Parish Centre for All Saints, Bury.

The modern, multi-purpose building in the Brandlesholme area would combine a place of worship with rooms for community purposes.

Members of the congregation are now being asked for their initial response to the first draft of drawings for the new building.

"This is a centre which would give us a much better opportunity to serve our local community," said the Vicar, the Rev Ian Walker. "We are looking forward into the new century." The church has been considering its options since 1993 after severe problems of dry rot and other structural difficulties in its existing buildings. Surveyors' reports indicated that flaws in the original design, and poor maintenance over a long period had left the buildings requiring substantial repair work.

Even then, the reports said, future upkeep of the old buildings would be astronomical.

All Saints is not the only building affected by the problems - the church hall, and the daughter church of the parish, St Francis House are also in need of major repair work. The situation at All Saints is so bad that the congregation is currently worshipping in the church hall because the old church building has been declared unsafe for meetings. The recommendation to build a new parish centre came from a church working party. The group felt that the future of the church would be best served by a modern purpose-built centre which would provide a flexible place of worship and rooms where the needs of the local community can be met.

New housing and alterations in the road system over the past 30 years make the choice of a site near the centre of Brandlesholme. Mr Walter paid tribute to the part played by the old church buildings in the past. "These buildings have meant a great deal to many people over the years, and it is sad that they have deteriorated to this extent," he said.

The proposals for the new church are being considered by the Diocese of Manchester, and there will be public meetings before any final decision on the future of the church buildings is taken.

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