Diocese is doubled

HERE in brief is the story of progress in various dioceses: Brentwood (consisting of the county of Essex): New housing estates have increased the Catholic population from 51,984 in 1945 to more than 102,000. Since the war 16 new churches have been built and eight church-halls, and other Mass centres have been provided. A dozen schools have been built, others have been enlarged, two buildings have been bought for use as schools.
Liverpool: Eleven parish churches have been built during the past 10 years and several other Mass centres have been established. Several more new churches are to be opened soon. A former Methodist chapel converted into a church is being opened this week. In 1947 the archdiocese had 178 Catholic schools of all types. Today there arc 229; still more are being built.
Portsmouth: Nine churches built since the war. The largest, in Southampton, cost £30,000. Ten church-halls built, three bombdamaged churches rebuilt, the cathedral and Bishop's House, also damaged in the war, re-built.
Westminster: Eight secondary modern schools built, three others on the way. Eleven primary and junior schools have been or are being built. Sites are difficult to obtain so a number of existing schools have been rented from the London County Council.
Birmingham: Up to the end of last August, the diocesan building fund has spent more than £1,103,455 on schools. Work has continued on several new schools. A church, a church-hall and a presbytery were finished this year and the foundation stone was laid of another church.
Nottingham: The Catholic population in this widespread diocese has increased by 40 per cent. since 1944. More than 20 new churches, a few of them church-halls, have been built. School building work in progress is expected to cost £170.000. The programme up to the end of 1958 is estimated at over £300,000.