MORE than 200 people attended a special dedication service on Saturday when Cottingley Cornerstone Centre's doors were open to the public for the first time.
Bishop of Bradford David James led the dedication and thanksgiving service for St Michael and All Angels' Church, a key part of the new community facilities at Littlelands.
The dedication, the first in Bradford Diocese since 1999, marks the beginn
ing of the end of the construction of the £4.5m community facilities, which have the backing of The Prince of Wales. Prince Charles visited the old St Michael's Church in September 2002 when he rededicated the vandalised war memorial. He sent representatives from his Foundation for the Built Environment to work with the community to help design Cottingley Cornerstone Centre and has continued to support the project.
Vicar of Cottingley Sue Pinnington said: "When we first planned to replace our crumbling church and hall we never dreamed that we would be embarking on a major regeneration project for our community.
"The dedication of the church really is a new beginning for us all and a wonderful opportunity for our congregation and other visitors to join us in giving thanks to God and to all those who have worked so hard to realise the vision that is the new St Michael's Church and the Cottingley Cornerstone Centre.''
Tory MP for Shipley Philip Davies said: "Its dedication...
sets the scene for the completion and opening of the whole centre."
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