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Saint Stephen the Great Charitable Trust acquired the church known as “St. Osmunds” in Parkstone, Poole in early 2005. The building had been designated as redundant and by 2004, its future was uncertain. Orthodox Christian services began to be held by lay readers immediately, and in January 2006, regular Sunday services of the Divine Liturgy of the Orthodox Church were begun. Since then, a congregation has begun to take shape and grow.
The church building is an unusual, magnificent Byzantine style, and is a Grade II* listed building. St. Osmund was William the Conqueror’s nephew, and a bishop of Salisbury. The Sarum Rite is attributed to him. The Orthodox congregation now present is called Saint Dunstan (a British Orthodox Christian saint who lived prior to William’s invasion of Britain). The building itself has not yet been re-consecrated (by an Orthodox hierarch) and hence, has not been formally renamed.
Saint Stephen the Great Charitable Trust acquired the church of Saint Mary Magdalene in Manningham, Bradford, in West Yorkshire on May 30, 2007. Saint Mary Magdalene had been designated as redundant and given a most uncertain future. It is hoped that lay readers will begin conducting Orthodox Christian services in the first week of July 2007.
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