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Parish held its own conversion

19/ 8/2006

IT IS said that the Lord helps those who help themselves and if that is true Rochdale's Ukrainian community had certainly earned plenty of divine help.

The result of its DIY labours was to be a special ceremony before a packed congregation to commemorate an impressive religious conversion.

In 1973 St James' Church, Wardleworth, had been closed down by the Church of England.

Built in 1821, it was the second oldest parish church in Rochdale.

In 1974 it was bought by the Ukrainian Catholic Church Commission.

But, while it had the building it wanted, the Commission needed to carry out a great deal of work on it so it would comply with its religious beliefs.

Rochdale's Ukrainian community rose to the challenge and for 18 months its electricians, painters and builders worked day and night to transform the church.

Representatives from every family played some part in the project.

Though the alterations cost £11,000 it proved to be money well spent.

Work included moving the pulpit from one side of the building to the other and lowering the altar.

Choir stalls were moved away from the altar and the font was removed and the basin broken, Anglican rules insisting on this to prevent secular use.

An inconstasis, a picture screen shielding the altar, was installed as were 10 chandeliers imported from Czechoslovakia, two confessionals, a new floor and a central heating system.

The whole of the interior was redecorated and paintings, banners and flags had been brought over from the old Ukrainian Church in William Street.

By May 1976 the work was almost complete with an official opening due later that long, hot summer.

Father Ivan Haskiak, the parish priest, believed the church was the only one in Britain which was reminiscent of Ukrainian churches.

He said: "I am delighted with the work our people have put into the alterations.

"We decided right from the start we had enough professionals in the parish to do the work ourselves without bringing in an outside contractor.

"The church feels brand new and it gives us added pleasure to know that we have done the work ourselves and probably saved several thousand of pounds in the process."