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€275,000 facelift for St. Mary's Church 29.07.08

Cockhill Church to remain open during renovations

BUNCRANA parish priest Fr John Walsh yesterday confirmed that St. Mary's Church, Cockhill, will not close at any time during a major €275,000 refurbishment of the 160 year old building.
Work on the 1847 church will begin around September this year and will take an estimated four months to complete.
Fr. Walsh outlined the nature of the renovations and said parishioners needn't worry about too much disruption.
"The bulk of the work will be in relation to the preservation of the original windows. These date from 1847 and are essentially small diamond panes of glass. Their restoration will require specialist and delicate workmanship," explained Fr Walsh.
Fr Walsh said the tender process for the window contract is nearing completion and the successful company will be from the North West.
Currently, the building fund for the works amounts to around €85,000 while the total amount needed,
Cockhill Church
when professional fees are included, will be more than €300,000. Buncrana and Cockhill parishioners were told at the weekend through the Sunday church bulletin that the parish intended meeting the anticipated deficit by holding a second weekly collection. "This collection will take place at each Mass every weekend after Holy Communion. Initially the second collection will last from September 6 until November 23. If our target is not achieved by the start of Advent, we will continue with the second collection in the New Year. We appeal for your generous support," the bulletin notice said.
Meanwhile, Fr. Walsh said the renovation works would also include the installation of wheelchair access ramps in the church porches, a limited amount of electrical work, a central heating upgrade as well as painting and redecoration of the interior. Cockhill Church was last refurbished in 1997 for its 150th anniversary.
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