Saint Mary's Social Club
Saint Mary's Social Club started as Saint Mary's Secondary School, which was replaced by Stuart Bathurst Secondary school in the 1960's. After closing as a school it was used by the parish as a Social Club. This eventually closed and was used by Churchills for a while until they moved to where they're situated on the main road today.
After closing about 10 years ago, the building remained unused and was susceptible to vandalism. It was completely stripped bare of all it's furnishings and fell into dereliction over the coming years. The parish failed to claim on its insurance, and the building has deteriorated further.
The building itself is a solid brick building and would be a convenient replacement for the Church Hall which has now reached its end of life. However, all its lighting and heating facilities were stripped from the building, making it unusable.
All that having been said, the building often has interest from local clubs and associations, but unfortunately many find that it would cost too much to restore. A model railway club, plus Sovereign Brass, just to name a few, were interested. The Parish too would like to use the building, perhaps as a cafe, nursery, Sunday school; there's a long list of what could be done with the building, but no money to do it with.
Recently we were visited by the Diocese who suggested selling everything and knocking it down; that would have to be a last resort.
We are hopeful that someone would be interested in the building, and saving it, if only for historical interest. Ideally it would make a good cafe, restaurant, offices, or apartments.
If anyone is interested, please get in touch.
After closing about 10 years ago, the building remained unused and was susceptible to vandalism. It was completely stripped bare of all it's furnishings and fell into dereliction over the coming years. The parish failed to claim on its insurance, and the building has deteriorated further.
The building itself is a solid brick building and would be a convenient replacement for the Church Hall which has now reached its end of life. However, all its lighting and heating facilities were stripped from the building, making it unusable.
All that having been said, the building often has interest from local clubs and associations, but unfortunately many find that it would cost too much to restore. A model railway club, plus Sovereign Brass, just to name a few, were interested. The Parish too would like to use the building, perhaps as a cafe, nursery, Sunday school; there's a long list of what could be done with the building, but no money to do it with.
Recently we were visited by the Diocese who suggested selling everything and knocking it down; that would have to be a last resort.
We are hopeful that someone would be interested in the building, and saving it, if only for historical interest. Ideally it would make a good cafe, restaurant, offices, or apartments.
If anyone is interested, please get in touch.
