Reference
P88/2/2/15
Title
Correspondence regarding possible sale of redundant St.Leonard's church to Ramgarhia Sikhs [which did not, in the end, happen].
Date free text
1977-1978
Production date
From: 1977 To: 1978
Scope and Content
File including, amongst other things:
- newspaper cutting announcing that the sale had been recommended by a Diocesan Uses Committee and the Bishop of Bedford following Sikh use of the church hall over a period of years;
- letter indicating that the PCCs of St.John's and St.Leonard's had not been consulted and were against the sale, despite sympathising with the Sikhs’ need for a worship centre, since they would be conducting Christian evangelical outreach from the next door church hall;
- newspaper article regarding Bedford Society’s support for the Sikhs buying the church;
- 14 page document by Pakistani Christians seeking asylum n Britain from religious persecution by Muslim state
- letters from Guru Nanak Gurdwara Executive Committee [rivals to the Ramgarhia Sikhs] setting out their beliefs and needs;
- newspaper article regarding Rural Dean of Bedford’s happiness that St.Leonard's was to be sold to Sikhs and his plea that the two Sikh groups should work together;
- newspaper articles regarding opposition to the proposed sale, some including pictures of the church;
- newspaper article about the fate of the war memorial in St.Leonard's church grounds, with a photograph of the memorial;
- welcome of the proposed sale by Bedford Community Relations Officer, Ved Sarpal;
- opposition by St.John's & St.Leonard's PCC to the sale;
- inability of Ramgarhia and Guru Nanak Gurdwara Sikhs to co-operate;
- wording of a petition not to sell the church to Sikhs;
- Asian Community, Church of Northern India invitation to a carol singing competition in St.Leonard's church;
- newspaper article regarding opposition to the sale by local people, including Asian Christians.
Level of description
file