NEW CATHOLIC CHURCH

£9,000 Structure at Iford.

Stone-laying by Bishop of Portsmouth.

Between two and three hundred people attended the stone-laying ceremony yesterday of the new Catholic Church of St. Thomas More at Iford, Bournemouth; which was performed by the bishop of Portsmouth, the Right Rev. Dr. W. T. Cotter, assisted by the Rt. Rev. Bishop King, bishop auxiliary of the diocese.

Headed by the Crucifix, the bishops and clergy in their robes entered the partly constructed building from Exton Road.

A service was held among the partly-raised walls and the scaffolding, during which the Bishop of Portsmouth sprinkled the place where the Sanctuary will be with Holy Water.

In laying the foundation stone, he scratched with the trowel six crosses on its surface and then walked around the structure, followed by the priests, sprinkling holy water as he went.

Beneath the foundation stone was placed a casket, inscribed on parchment together with sacred medals and coins of the realm.

Dr. Cotter's Address

After the ceremony the bishop addressed the gathering, reminding the people of their obligations to assist in completing the building of the church. The foundation stone set that afternoon was the primary stone upon which was to be built the Word of God, by which they learned how to live and how to die.

He urged them to do all they could to see that the new church was equipped adequately in every way, and used to the Glory of God.

The need for it had arisen through the number of Catholics who had taken up their residence in that part of the town and who were too far removed from the parish church.

It would help them to serve Almighty God as good and earnest Catholics and to fulfil their duty to their neighbours and themselves.

The bishop emphasised that he wished his hearers to take an interest in the church, not only in a pecuniary way. They could all join in prayer to advance its welfare.

By prayer they could secure the help that would enable them to complete the church for God's service and worship.

The building was being raised in an area where some 70 or 80 years ago there were only two Catholic churches - one at Burton Park and the other near Lulworth Cove.

Today in the same district the Catholic churches were almost beyond counting.