by Sam Hawcroft
A Withernsea church has been given a new lease of life thanks to a renovation project led by one of its regular congregation.
St Peter and St John Fisher Catholic church in Bannister Street has had its frontage restored, including the refurbishment of its crucifix and the reinstatement of traditional lettering based on an old photograph of the building.
The project has been spearheaded by Dave Walker, better known to many locally as Para Dave and as the air show director for Withernsea’s Blue Light Weekend.
Dave said the work came about after the church’s former priest, Fr Philip Cunnah, highlighted that little significant work had been carried out on the building for about 20 years.
Its relatively understated appearance was also causing a practical problem – people were struggling to work out where it was.
Dave said: “Father Phil said he had people who were looking for the church and following the sign in Seaside Road, but they had driven up and down Bannister Street and couldn’t find it because it looked like a fairly nondescript terraced building.
“He wondered whether there was anything we could do to get it back to how it was.”
Dave turned to contacts he had made through his involvement with the Blue Light Weekend air show, including Ian Ross, chief engineer and a trustee of the Real Aeroplane Company at Breighton Airfield.
The crucifix was removed and taken to Ian, who helped assess and repair it before further specialist work was carried out by Amber Powder Coating in Hull.
Dave said both Ian and Amber Powder Coating had given their time and expertise free of charge to support the project.
The original lettering on the frontage had long since disappeared, but an old photograph showing how the church had once looked provided the inspiration for restoring that too.
A local joiner, Mike Barnfather, recreated the lettering, helping give the building a much more distinctive appearance from Bannister Street.
Dave said: “We’ve got the lettering back on the church and the crucifix has been restored and protected again.
“Amber Powder Coating did it for absolutely nothing and Ian’s time at the Real Aeroplane Company was given for nothing as well, just to support Withernsea’s Catholic church.
“I’m trying to help renovate it, but also to bring more people through the door. I’d be surprised how many people in Withernsea actually knew there was a Catholic church there.”
The renovation has also been warmly welcomed by the church’s new priest, Fr Charles Bassey, who took over responsibility for the Catholic churches in Withernsea, Hedon and Hornsea during the summer.
Fr Charles, 42, was born in Nigeria and studied in Assisi and Rome before serving in parishes in London and North Yorkshire. He now lives in Hedon and travels between the three East Yorkshire communities.
He said the difference to the Withernsea church was instantly noticeable.
Fr Charles said: “On Saturday when I went to the church for Mass, it captivated me immediately because I was able to spot the church through the long row of buildings.
“The first time I went there looking for the church, I was not able to recognise it. The cross was there but it was hidden.
“With the work that has been done, it is very easy to spot. It brings back its beauty and it is very beautiful.
“I told Dave that I think it is a wonderful act of generosity he has done for the church.”
Fr Charles said attention would now also turn to some smaller-scale improvements inside the building.
“We are looking forward to doing some minor renovations inside the church itself, touching up the painting and looking at what we can do with the ceiling,” he said.
“But what has been done outside for now is very welcoming. The people love it and it is eye-catching.”
Further exterior lighting is also planned, which Fr Charles said would be particularly helpful during the darker winter months, making the entrance and ground easier for elderly worshippers to see.
Dave hopes the improvements can form part of a wider effort to raise awareness of the church and encourage more people to become involved.