The
first sod was lifted on Monday to lay the foundations on the new site of
St. Andrew’s Church, Ferrybridge.
As already reported in ‘The Express’,
the Norman Church is to be taken down and rebuilt in the field adjoining
the Vicarage, in Pontefract Road. The ceremony was performed by the oldest
parishioner, Miss Ada Hartley, who is 86. Introducing her, the Vicar of
Ferrybridge, the Reverend C.H. Branch, declared that for 40 years there
had been a pressing need for a more central church, and the past ten years
had intensified that need. Since the last war, over 200 more houses had
been built in the village. He described the lifting of the first sod as
the "initial climax" of 40 years work.
As if to augur success
for the scheme, the sun shone on a gathering of about 30 people mainly
women, who had taken time off from their morning tasks to see an event the
like of which has not occurred in the village since about 1160. And this
was not to be the building of a new church, but the bodily removal of an
ancient one. Mr. J.C.S. Wood, of Messrs. R.A. Easdale and Son, Castleford,
the architects for the project, also spoke of the need for a church nearer
the heart of the village and expressed hope that everything would go
smoothly in "these days of difficulties." After performing the
ceremony, Miss Hartley was thanked by the Vicar’s Warden, Mr. J. Briggs,
and the people’s Warden, Mr. W.H. Lund.
Were
you there at this ceremony? Please write in and let us know about it.
