Church to re-open on Sunday
It is thought the retaining wall behind the Shoulder of Mutton pub collapsed, causing an immediate and overwhelming flood of the Good Shepherd Church and Father John Gott’s presbytery of about four feet.
Father Gott, who celebrated his golden jubilee as a parish priest last year, was inside the church at the time and had to be rescued.
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Hide AdThe church itself celebrated its silver jubilee last year - the three historic Catholic parishes of Luddenden, Mytholmroyd and Hebden Bridge combined to form a single community 25 years ago,
Parishioners and friends of the church met on the bridge in Mytholmroyd and, re-enacting the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, they walked to the church to celebrate Mass for the first time since it was devastated by flooding earlier this year.
A spokesperson for the church said: “We are thrilled to be able to celebrate Easter in our own church, even though this is only a temporary visit.
“The church was very badly damaged and still needs extensive repair and refurbishment.
“It will be some time yet before our church and centre are fully active again.”