Churches have received a stark message that they are not exempt from the effects of the recession after the building of a new church in County Down was halted by the collapse of a construction firm and a credit union linked to the Presbyterian Church has run into trouble. Builders MG Coulter won the contract to rebuild Holy Cross church in Atticall, Co Down, three months ago but the company has now gone into receivership and demolition work has stopped.
The church closed in October and the new building was scheduled to be opened next summer.
Most of the firm’s 35 workers have been laid off, leaving a mound of rubble from the demolished building.
Parishioners are now concerned about the future of the £600,000 project.
Local councillor Martin Connolly said that worshippers now have to go to Mass in nearby Kilkeel and many do not have transport.
Meanwhile, a credit union in Belfast linked to the Presbyterian church has run into financial difficulties.
The Presbyterian Mutual Society has said it is stopping repayments to members because it cannot meet demand for withdrawals.
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland has expressed "deep concern" at the development and offered "pastoral care" to shareholders of the credit union, which was set up in 1982 and is a separate legal entity from the church.
The society has assets of £300m and some 9,500 shareholder accounts and makes loans to churches and private individuals.
In a statement, it said the credit crunch had begun “to have a severe effect on the Society's level of liquid assets".
It blamed the government's financial compensation scheme for bank deposits for an increasing number of people moving their funds elsewhere and leaving the Society short if cash
The Clerk of the Presbyterian General Assembly, Rev Donald Watts said his Church "cannot in any way underwrite the commitments of the society".
"However, many Presbyterians who invested in the society are now understandably worried and we have a responsibility to care pastorally for them," he added.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce
(Source: CIN)