Work starts on new town centre church

The site of the new church are (front left-right) Liz Garsrud, RDA – Surveyor; Cllr Cecile Biant, Chair Rochdale Township; Kevin Hargreaves, Globe Construction – Director; Rev Carolyn White and Jan Hicks - Church Member. Back (left-right) David Burton, Globe Construction – Contracts Manager; Lee Oliver Globe Construction - Commercial Manager; Pat Farnan, Globe Construction – Project Manager and John Taylor, RDA – Surveyor

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Members of St Andrew’s Methodist and United Reformed Church are about to see work start on their new church, which should be completed by the end of the year.

The church, currently on Smith Street, is relocating to make way for the next phase of the £250million regeneration of Rochdale town centre.

The new site, on Entwisle Road where the former Central Leisure Centre used to be, has been secured with the help of Rochdale Development Agency, which is co-ordinating the redevelopment of the town centre, and Rochdale Borough Council.

The building will be multi-functional, providing flexible space along with a café area to enable the church to continue to play an active part in the community. It is being developed by Globe Construction to high environmental standards and the design includes an air-source heat pump that absorbs heat from the outside air. This heat can then be used to heat radiators, underfloor heating systems and hot water, reducing the church’s running costs. The building will also have a car park for 29 cars, including three disabled spaces.

Councillor Peter Williams, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Planning, said: “I’m delighted that construction of the new church is getting underway and that through working with Rochdale Development Agency and the Council we were able to find a suitable location.” 

The Revd Carolyn White, United Reformed Church Minister at St Andrew’s, said: “This is a really exciting time for St Andrew’s. There’s been a church on our present site for more than 150 years and we’re delighted to be staying in the town centre.

"It’s going to be great to see work start and we’re hoping it will be completed around Christmas time, allowing us to move in at the start of 2014.”