A CHURCH is undergoing an £800,000 extension because of a surging demand caused by the country’s economic problems and the amount of immigration to the area. Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Wickhay, Lee Chapel North, Basildon, claimed more people have been attending services because of the depressing state of the country.
Many Indian and Filipino families with a strong Catholic background have also joined since moving to the area, to work as doctors and nurses at Basildon Hospital.
With a congregation of 350 people and seating for just 250 in the church hall, up to 100 parishioners were having to watch mass on a Sunday via video link in a neighbouring hall.
Father Dominic Howarth, who has been at the church for three years, said two years ago he realised the church desperately needed to be extended by an extra 100 seats.
He said: “In these hard times, many people come to church because they want to think there is something better than the way society is at the moment.
“We have had a massive surge in families from the Phillipines and India coming to the church. We have about 120 with us now. Many of the families from India come from Kerala in the south, where there is a strong Catholic belief. We have got an ever-growing congregation and we want the building to be a pillar in the community where people can come.”
The money to build the extension came from the previous sale of a chapel in Whitmore Way, Basildon, ten years ago.
Teresa Walker, 70, of Great Knightleys, Basildon, has been going to the church for 47 years and she said the congregation was very pleased with the extension.
She said: “We have seen a real surge in the congregation and we are all very pleased we are extending. It’s great to see such a mix of families in the church and to see many people coming back to spirituality.”
Another church in Basildon extending is St Andrew’s Church, in The Fremnells, which has applied for permission to extend its car park and to build a new access road.