Flooded church bounces back

A flood-hit Calderdale church is bouncing back after being badly hit by the devastating events of Boxing Day.
Bishop Marcus Stock with Hebden Royd Mayor Tony Hodgins and Mayoress Hazel ScrivenBishop Marcus Stock with Hebden Royd Mayor Tony Hodgins and Mayoress Hazel Scriven
Bishop Marcus Stock with Hebden Royd Mayor Tony Hodgins and Mayoress Hazel Scriven

When the deluge hit last winter, the Church of the Good Shepherd, Mytholmroyd, was hit by a two-metre wave of water and mud after a retaining wall in Cragg Road gave way.

Extensive external damage was caused, but the building has now been refurbished and the occasion was marked with a special service.

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On Saturday, September 24, Bishop Marcus Stock, of the Catholic Diocese of Leeds, returned to the packed church, for a mass of celebration and re-dedication.

In his homily, the Rt Rev Stock paid tribute to the resilience of the community.

He said: “That, a church is much more than just a building. It’s made up ‘living stones’, each supporting the other and constantly being renewed.”

Father John Gott, soon to retire after 35 years as parish priest, added: “It was heartbreaking to see everything swept away, but a joy to witness the resilience and strength of the people, during this testing time.”

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He also paid to tribute to other churches “who opened their doors to us and to the many individuals, families and communities across the UK and in other parts of the world, many of whom we will never meet, that provided practical and spiritual support.

He added: “We often find it much easier to give than to receive.

“It has veen truly humbling to receive so much from so many, in our time of need.”

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