CHURCH BUILDING

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 62, 15 March 1933, Page 14

CHURCH BUILDING

Modern conditions have compelled the Church to face many complex problems. All over England within the past few years new residential and industrial districts have sprung up, and in several dioceses a determined attempt has been made to meet the religious needs of the new communities. Now, in the Diocese of Oxford, plans have been made that affect many parishes in the counties of Oxford, Berks, and Bucks. In consequence of the increase of population at Cou-ley (from 3000 to more than 8000); at Reading, where the parish of Christ Church has now 16,500 inhabitants compared with 12,000; and in the big area that has been built an to.the west of High AYyeombe, it has been decided after a special survey by the Church Extension Committee of tho diocese, that it is immediately necessary to carry out a scheme to acquire a number of sites for churches and church buildings. The cost of this scheme represents nearly £40,000, and the committee, after careful inquiry, has been forced to the conclusion that it will be necessary to collect one-half of it outside the parishes concerned. The great hope is that it will be found possible to collect £5000 before the end of the year, this amount being needed most urgently.