A STORY FOR EASTER
A STORY FOR EASTER
A STORY FOR EASTER
A STORY FOR EASTER
Roman Catholic Churches of Marnhull and Gillingham, Dorset
Telephone: 01258 820388 email:marnhull@prcdtr.org.uk
THE CATHOLIC PARISH OF MARNHULL
Marnhull RC Parish is part of Plymouth Roman Catholic Diocese
Registered Charity No. 213227
A NEW CHURCH FOR GILLINGHAM, DORSET, within the Diocese of Plymouth
Message from Fr Cletus, Parish Priest for Marnhull & Gillingham
O gates, lift high your heads;
grow higher, ancient doors.
Let him enter, the king of glory!
Who is this king of glory?
He, the LORD of hosts,
He is the king of glory.
Psalm 24
Gillingham is part of the Catholic parish of Marnhull, which has had a resident priest since 1725. It is part of Plymouth Roman Catholic Diocese (Plymouth Diocesan Trust) registered charity 213227.
In the centre of Gillingham, raised above the High Street, is the former Methodist church now taken on by the Catholics of North Dorset. The much-loved Catholic chapel of St Benedict (Cemetery Road, Gillingham) has become too small for a vibrant and growing Catholic community. In February 2024 Plymouth Diocese Curia bought the church, the hall, the attached former Sunday school and ancillary space and work is underway by the parish to reorder the church for Catholic worship. These works include a new sacristy, vestry and parish office and the former Sunday school is being converted to enable the parish priest to live in Gillingham.
The aim is for all who enter the building to be uplifted with a sense of entering a sacred place, elevating them above the daily humdrum of life. The space aims to fill all with a sense of belonging while creating the opportunity for communal worship and personal reflection … a spiritual gem at the heart of the community.
The affordability of daily/annual running costs has been carefully considered to sustainably meet maintenance demands in the future and to ensure our church is available for the needs of the community for many years to come.
Much of the money needed to carry out these extensive works has come from parish resources and benefactors. This is allowing the total refurbishment and conversion of the building to ensure a sacred space worthy of the celebration of the sacraments. We are looking for final additional funding for elements within the church itself, typically:
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The Sanctuary, reredos, panels and crucifix mounting £40,000
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The Narthex and Confessional £45,000
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The Baptistry £15,000
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Sound and Light Systems £30,000
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General decoration, Statues etc. £20,000
Our Target is £150,000
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Gifting units of £10 will be STEPS on our journey.
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Gifting units of £100 will be MILESTONES on our journey.
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Family gifts target could be your PERSONAL KEYSTONE and achievement.
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The challenge target is for us to take 15,000 steps (1,500 milestones) on our journey to complete and open our new church.
Please support this project by
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Making a one-off donation.
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Setting up a monthly direct debit.
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Sharing these details with family and friends so they can contribute.
WAYS TO DONATE
Directly by clicking the Donate button
By BACS, please make bank payments to:
A/C Name – PRCDTR Marnhull RC Parish
Sort Code 55-61-09
Account Number 07388381
Ref: NEW CHURCH APPEAL – followed by your name
By sending a cheque payable to “Marnhull RC Parish” marked NEW CHURCH APPEAL on the reverse,
to The Parish Priest, The Presbytery, Old Mill Lane, Marnhull, DT10 1JX.
By placing cash in the Sunday Offertory in an envelope marked NEW CHURCH APPEAL.
If you have already registered for GIFT AID with this parish, we can reclaim tax on your donation(s). If you are a tax payer and you are NOT currently registered with this parish, please download a Gift Aid Declaration or contact the parish office, marnhull@prcdtr.org.uk. Once completed, please return the form to the parish office.
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A further separate donation of £25 in memory of someone, would enable a small metal plaque to be fixed to a pew stating: Please Pray for [Name] [Dates]
We hope to complete the entire conversion by Autumn 2025. Once we are open, do come and visit to see what we have achieved. If for some reason, the appeal project cannot be completed, or if a surplus arises, the remaining appeal funds will be used for general charitable purposes of the parish.
If you would like to supply contact details, we will keep you updated on progress, or you can visit our website: https://www.marnhullandgillinghamrc.org.uk/new-church-in-gillingham
Please pray for us and for the success of this project.
If the Lord does not build the house,
In vain do its builders labour;
If the Lord does not keep watch over the city,
In vain does the watchman keep vigil.
Psalm 127
Father Onyebuchi Ibeka Cletus, Parish Priest
Parish office: marnhull@prcdtr.org.uk 07432 404358 or 01258 820388