SOUTHWARK'S 8 NEW CHURCHES

Two dioceses show big progress
A LTHOUGH the Southwark diocese has on its hands the great 'task of rebuilding St. George's Cathedral-and schools-Bishop Cowderoy is able to report in his Rosary Sunday pastoral letter the opening during the past 12 months of new churches at Rochester (largely the gift of American Catholics), Bagshot, East Sheen, Ham, Beacon Hill, Heathfield, Sidley and Pulborough.
The non-Catholic church bought at Stockwell has also been opened, as well as two small pre-Reformation churches given by Miss Arnold-one at Shorne, the other at Dade, the latter now dedicated to Our Lady of the Meadows.
Foundation stones for other churches have been laid at Barnes, Westerham and Southwick-the lastnamed to be dedicated to St. Theresa of the Child Jesus "in thanksgiving for the recovery from serious illness of our Metropolitan, the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster."
The I3ishop also records the laying of the first stone of the new Priory church at Aylesford, the opening of a chapel for the Catholics in Canterbury Prison, and much development in building or improving halls and presbyteries.
At the same time the Bishop states that there are at least 25 places in the diocese where new churches ought to he provided or existing churches extended.
"We thank God that this should be so," says His Lordship. "It is a token of the very wonderful progress the Faith is making."
Archbishop King, Bishop of Portsmouth, in his Rosary Sunday pastoral letter, also records extensive progress.
Since last October churches or church halls had been opened in Lambourn, Wootton and Botley (Berks), and Hawley, Porchester and Paulsgrove (Hants). Several more are being built. It is hoped that very soon the new churches at Portswood and Totton, both in Southampton, will be completed.