History of St Marys 1950-1990

It was only in 1954 that the rebuilding plans were finalised. The nave was to be divided, the west end of the church to be used as a community centre.

The new building was re-opened 13/04/1957, with HRH Princess Alexandra as guest of honour.

Adolf Hitler was responsible for the land mine which severely damaged the church and set the scene for a brilliant reinvention of St Mary's as a church and community centre in the 1950's. Stephen Burnett saw this through with a group not dissimilar to our later steering group.

The 1957 report states "Our expressed purpose, before the centre opened, was that it should serve the whole neighbourhood and, with members of all ages and with activities of all kinds, become a real source of fuller life for everyone.... The wide interest which our venture is arousing proves that we are blazing a trail which will lead far beyond our own city. Our interest in one another, our sharing of responsibility and our development of plans to satisfy wide and varied interests bring a zest to life and help us to become full developed, well integrated individuals. During the coming year we hope to show that our aims are not vague ideals but that they are actually being worked out!"

Certainly not vague ideals. In the last 46 years, St Mary's has responded creatively to changing spiritual, social and economic circumstances from the 60's to the 21st Century. If we can achieve as much with our renewed church and centre in the next half century, we will have done well.

In 1978, the new ring road took away the northern part of the grave-yard, and the gates at the former main entrance were moved to their current position on Clough Rd.

1977: The Diocesan Pastoral Committee decided that when the Vicar of St Mary with St Simon with St Matthias left, the parish should merge with St Barnabus, to become St Barnabus and St Mary Sheffield. This was thought neccessary because of the large amount of house clearance which was happening around St Marys. St Marys was demoted to a 'chapel of ease' and the Vicar of St Barnabus, Rev John Alec Smith BD ALCD, became Priest-in-Charge of the merged parish.

In 1980 the church was sandblasted (with 50 tons of sand).

1988: The parish church (previously St Barnabus') was declared redundant.