On Sunday our celebration was slightly special as we gathered together outside near the end of the mass to hold a special ceremony. Fr Richard Reid led The Blessing and Rededication of our Spire (built in 1850) an opportunity to thank God for this fine landmark and to say “thank you” to the parishioners who gave of their time, money and prayer to support the whole project.
Fr Richard also thanked the Redemptorist’s team for all their hard work over the years to complete the spire project.
The Redemptorist community was well represented as all wanted to join in the celebrations. As the photos also show a huge crowd from the parish were also there, giving praise to God for the wonder of our spire.
The Redemptorists and the Parish want to say a huge thank you to, The Heritage Lottery Fund, The National Churches Trust and the many generous donors who gave and supported us in so many ways.
"After over 160 years the parish is going from strength to strength. Today is a wonderful opportunity to rejoice in our faith, Our Catholic faith and to rededicate ourselves to the work of Jesus Christ in Clapham so that this community may continue to be an ever brighter beacon of light in these beautiful surroundings.
Peace,"
Fr.Richard Reid CSsR
Here are some amazing photographs of the work that has been so carefully carried out over the last year on our spire. You can see from the photographs all the hard work that has gone into making our spire GREAT again.
A group from the CTiC met at St Mary’s Church, Clapham on Saturday 24th October 2015 for an illustrated lecture by project architect Fergus Mc Cormick of Thomas Ford & Partners on the repairs to the Spire and on the Heritage Lottery Fund places of worship grant scheme. Fr Richard Reid, parish priest, welcomed those attending and gave a short introduction to the lecture. Fr Charles Corrigan spoke at the end of the presentation about the Church’s experience of dealing with the HLF places of worship grant process. At the end of the lecture Fergus Mc Cormick led a group of those attending up the Spire to view at close quarters the repairs that have been carried out. The Contractor for the repair works PAYE was on hand to provide access to the scaffold and distribute hard hats and high visibility vests to the group ascending the scaffold. The CTiC lecture and site visit was very successful and enjoyed by also those attending. This visit represents the last in a series of site visits and lectures organised by Thomas Ford & Partners which formed an important part of the Church’s activity plan under the Heritage Lottery Fund Grant scheme for the Spire Repairs.
Fergus Mc Cormick B.Arch, RIBA, Dip.Prog.Management, AABCSenior Architect
