'People were crying'- Community heartbroken after Holy Family Catholic Church in Ingol announces shock closure
Parishioners in Ingol have been left shocked and saddened following the news that their long standing church has shut down with immediate effect.
The congregation at Holy Family Catholic Church were informed of its sudden closure at the end of Mass on Sunday, with no prior warning.
In a statement read out by the priest Father Dawson - and since shared with the Post - the Bishop of Lancaster, Paul Swarbrick said the decision to close Holy Family Church and its parish hall was made due to “important health and safety issues.”
The Bishop explained: “Parts of the heating systems serving both premises have been formally condemned, with the gas to the church boiler being completely disconnected. In addition, the electrical installations have been assessed this week and have been deemed unsafe for continued use of both the church and the pastoral centre.
“These matters present significant and immediate risks which cannot responsibly be overlooked.
“A full rewire of both church and pastoral centre would be needed to keep the buildings usable, as well as heating works. Also, a fire alarm up to current specification is required for the pastoral centre, along with work on emergency lighting for both buildings.
“Initial estimates indicate that the cost of the repairs required to bring the buildings to a safe and compliant standard is in excess of £125,000. At present, parish funds stand at approximately £18,000, which falls far short of what would be required toaddress these issues.”
The news “came out of the blue” according to parishioners who say they feel blindsided and distressed that no opportunity was given to explore emergency measures that might have kept the church open.
Parishioner Caroline Reed, an 84-year-old retiree who has attended with her husband Peter for the last 25 years, said: “It’s devastating because it’s about our community, not just the church.
“Our church is not the building itself, it’s the community, we can have mass anywhere- school halls for example.
“We were invited to Father Dawson’s other church, St Anthony's in Fulwood, but many people won’t be able to travel that far.
“People were crying when the letter was read out, it was very sad, and angry at the way it had been handled. It’s just terrible.”
Parishioners did suggest holding their mass in a school hall but were reportedly told this would not be possible.
Approached by the Post about this, Father Dawson added: “At the moment the only decision is to cease the use of the buildings for safety reasons. Further decisions regarding alternative provision will need to be made in due course and after consultation.”
The closure of Holy Family Church also creates uncertainty for its associated food bank, Share-IT — a vital lifeline for hundreds of families, parishioners say.
When the closure was announced on Sunday, the Share-IT food bank was forced to act quickly to avoid disruption to those in need - 125 bags of food were already set up in the parish hall for Easter.
Volunteers secured temporary accommodation for the food at Ingol Methodist Church that very day, ensuring that support can continue for vulnerable residents who depend on the service.
A spokesperson for the food bank told us: “We’ve seen demand grow steadily, especially over the past few years. We feel let down that this has happened without consultation.”
Parishioners have also voiced anger at what they see as a lack of recognition for their past fundraising efforts - they previously raised more than £80,000 to reroof the pastoral centre and contribute to improvements at the local school.
One parishioner told us: “Many feel these contributions have been overlooked and the diocese has planned this closure for sometime without consultation or compassion.”
Described by its members as a vibrant and thriving parish, Holy Family has also drawn worshippers from across the county, with parishioners telling us that this prominence makes the closure even harder to understand.
54- year-old customer service representative Caroline Warden, who has attended the church for 45 years told the Post: “This feels like a bereavement. I’ve been part of Holy Family since I was seven years old, and overnight it’s been taken away. Our church isn’t just a building — it’s our family, our support system, and a lifeline for so many people.
“The sudden closure has left us completely shocked. For decades, this church has been at the heart of our community, especially through the food bank and outreach work. It feels like we’ve been abandoned, with no regard for the people who rely on us.
“We understand there may be reasons behind the decision, but the way it’s been handled has been deeply hurtful. This church is our home, and its closure has left a whole community grieving and searching for answers.”
The community at Holy Family Church add that they vow to fight the diocese to keep their community and family together and they will explore all options to make the church viable and vibrant once again.