A CATHOLIC Church building which has been closed since March 2020 at the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic is to reopen for a provisional period of 12 months.

St Thomas of Canterbury Church on Greenfield Road, in Dentons Green, has been shut for the past two and a half years.

This led to fears from parishioners over the church's future, with the parish's long-running priest Father Tom Gagie having stepped down earlier this year. 

Newly-ordained priest Fr Michael Harwood, who has taken over as administrator at St Mary's Lowe House and at St Julie's Church, in Eccleston, has also been given responsibility for St Thomas of Canterbury.

Two consultation meetings were held to discuss future provision for the St Thomas of Canterbury parish, one in July and one in September.

At the latter meeting it was announced that Archbishop of Liverpool Malcolm McMahon has agreed that the church can reopen. This will be for a 12-month period provisionally.

The meeting heard that parishes will need to work more closely together in future, amid a backdrop of decreasing priest numbers.

The archdiocese has stated it may need to look to the future with "a different vision of Ministry".

With work needed to be done to prepare the St Thomas of Canterbury building for reopening, the church is set to open its doors for Advent. 

A spokesman for the Archdiocese of Liverpool said: "I can confirm that Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP, the Archbishop of Liverpool, has agreed that St Thomas of Canterbury church can open for a period of 12 months from the First Sunday of Advent, November 27, 2022. 

"This was announced at the St Helens Deanery consultation meeting held on Tuesday, September 20."

Meanwhile, Fr Michael Harwood is to work with Dean of St Helens Fr Martin Kershaw to establish a new team ministry in the town.

In a statement in parish newsletters the Arcdiocese of Liverpool said: "Fr Martin will be working closely with Fr Michael in establishing a new team ministry within the town of St Helens. 

"English Martyrs Parish, Haydock, will be looked after by a new Spiritan priest who will live and work with Fr Benedict who is based in Newton-le-Willows. 

"It may mean that we look towards the future with a different vision of Ministry.

"The configuration of parishes will have to change, and at some point in the future, parishes will have to start working more closely together."