Published: Thursday, 11th September, 2008 12:09pm
Save our St Saviour's, say residents
by Rose Harland
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NEIGHBOURS are furious that their local Victorian church --where they have marked births, marriages and deaths - could be knocked down.
St Saviour's in Coley has been in use since 1888, a centrepiece among the red brick houses that sprang up around it, but now church leaders say it no longer meets the needs of the community.
St Saviour's Christian Centre, part of the Elim Pentecostal Church, took over ownership from the Church of England nearly 20 years ago.
It plans to keep the 1990 extension but has applied for planning permission to replace the Victorian part with a new two-storey building to provide more community services including a day nursery, youth centre and counselling service.
The plans for the site, at the corner of Berkeley Avenue and Wolseley Street, would incorporate a book shop and an outdoor play area. Norman Dawson, 83, a retired carpet fitter born in nearby Wolseley Street, said: "I was christened in St Saviour's, I was in the cubs and scouts there and before and after the war I sang in the choir. It's been my life. I hope they change their minds and it doesn't get knocked down."
Ray and Mary Clarke, aged 83 and 79, of St Saviour's Terrace, met at the church's social club and were married there in 1950.
Mrs Clarke said: "My bridesmaid's funeral was held there. We grew up together since we were three-years-old. We used to go there together, morning and evening, every Sunday.
"Three months after our wedding she was killed in a car crash. She was only 19. The church holds a lot of memories. It's very sad that people can come and take over somewhere and tear it down. I think it's awful that they want to do it.
"I hope I'm not around to see it if it ever does happen."
The church's assistant pastor Tayo Joseph said: "What we are looking at is more facilities for the community.
"There are lots of things we want to do.
"We have toddler groups and youth groups for local kids who would otherwise have nothing to do, but we don't have enough room. None of us disputes it's a beautiful building. It's something we'd love to keep if it met our needs, but it does not. We are still open to dialogue."
But residents say they were kept in the dark and Patricia Mann, 65, of Wolsely Street, said: "I'm disgusted with the plans. I think it's awful because it's been covered up. The letters from the church only said that they were going to build a community centre.
"We never knew they were going to pull the old bit down. My son Ian was christened there."
Historian Jean Heward, who has lived in Coley for 30 years, said: "The church was designed by FW Albury, a local architect who had his office in Friar Street. It is a good example of local brickwork for which Reading is famous."
Residents have been collecting signatures for a petition and contacting councillors and MPs, and the deadline for comments has been put back from September 4 until September 23. Contact the council on 0800 626 540.
Do you think the building is holding back community work? Or is it an important historic site that should be saved? Have your say below or write to the Editor.
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Dave Harney
(Unregistered User)
Sep 12 08 18:48
Our Ref: 538
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Hello I live on Church Terrace just behind St. Saviours Church. It is a lovely building, with charictor which marks the charictoristic of 90% of the immediate neighbourhood. What got my goat up the most, was the under handed play of how the church represented its intentions. The info was very vague as to what the plans details ref; the church rebuild. The plans were only displayed for 2 hours on fathers day, so most people were visiting family!
When the photos were submitted by the church of the local neighbourhood, there were only pictures of the petrol station & some of the flats, somehow all the victorian houses / school were were left out. Giving a false representation of Coley.
As far as I'm aware most of the people who attend the church do not live in the local area, so it would not be them who would have a building site on their door step for 18 months either.
Regarding the comments I read by the pastor ref; needing to create more facilities for the community ( creche, youth club etc ) If they have the money to destroy & re-build the church I would of thought that they'd also got the money to buy up somewhere else locally to run the services / facilties from .... without needing to stove in this lovely historic church.
Most people I spoke to in Feild Road, St. Saviours Terrace, Church Terrace & Wolseley Street .... bought the houses as they really like the charictoristics of the Victorian Neighbourhood they live in, and to pull down the church & replace it with a modern bland, charictorless modern buildingwould destroy the centre peice of this Victorian neighbourhood !!!
Thank you ........ Dave Harney
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Local Resident
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Sep 14 08 13:33
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To view pictures of this beautiful Victorian church and surrounding buildings please visit:
http://www.osmium.co.uk
Please read or skim this document before objecting.
http://www.planning-applications.co.uk/objection.htm
Always try and include the Planning Reference Number and location of the property.
Always include your full name and address
To view plans
http://planning.reading.gov.uk/publicac ... hform.aspx
Application Case Reference and
Planning Application: 08/00890/FUL
Send Objections to:
planningcomments@reading.gov.uk
Planning Application: 08/00890/FUL
F.A.O Lloyd Johnson
Lloyd.Johnson@reading.gov.uk
Please forward your emails to:
savechurch@ozmium.co.uk
We need Evidence of your objection and quotations for our objection.
If we decide to quote you,or represent your opinions at committee level, we may require your consent.
We will contact you if necessary. preferably by email.
if you do not want to be contacted please tell us.
We promise to respect your privacy.
IF YOU WANT TO HELP
(Please include your name phone number, profession, experience in such matters and if you feel your views or help
may be of use to us)
We are essentially collecting evidence of public opinion.
This way we can prove that Reading and Coleys local community are against this insane propposal.
If you intend to speak at the committee meeting please let us know!
We would like to compare notes in order to make our objections more effective.
We the residents of Old Coley Thank You!
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Local Resident
(Unregistered User)
Sep 17 08 02:12
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?
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Peter Garratt
(Unregistered User)
Oct 2 08 16:29
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I work as a civil engineer and feel sure that the church would be able to refurbish the building so that it can achieve what it wants, rather than destroy it.
Look what's been achieved with St. Pancras Station recently!
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