CHRISTIANS are working together to plan spiritual support for 2,000 new households.

The Ven Trevor Reader on site near Waterlooville

The Anglican Diocese of Portsmouth is working with Roman Catholics, Methodists and Baptists to ensure a Christian presence in the major development to be built to the west of Waterlooville. 

It’s likely to take the form of a new Church of England school, which could also double as a base for any future church congregation.

An ecumenical community worker may also be employed to offer pastoral support and ministry to residents. Part of their role would be to signpost them towards the existing churches of all denominations in Purbrook, Waterlooville and Denmead.

And the Anglican Diocese of Portsmouth is adjusting parish boundaries to ensure that most of the new homes fall within the parish of St John the Baptist, Purbrook. That adjustment will mean St John’s Church is at the centre of the newly-formed parish – it’s currently on the edge of its existing parish.

Work has now started on the new development, which will be built to the west and south-west of Waterlooville town centre. The first 200 homes are now being built off Hambledon Road. Bryant Homes are now selling the one to four-bedroomed houses which will form Dukes Meadow, and hope the first new residents will move in later this year.

Ultimately, the Grainger Trust wants to build 1,500 homes to the west of London Road, while George Wimpey wants to build 500 homes to the south of Hambledon Road. There will also be shops, parks, new roads and office space.

The Archdeacon of Portsdown, the Ven Trevor Reader, is chairing meetings of church leaders, including Anglican clergy and representatives from Sacred Heart RC Church, Denmead Baptist Church and Waterlooville Methodist Church.

“We’ve been meeting for some time, and we’re all agreed on what we hope will happen,” said Trevor. “We think that a brand new church building would be inappropriate, as there are several churches of all denominations within easy reach of the new homes.

“But we do hope we can be involved in creating a new church school, with an ecumenical foundation to it. Hampshire County Council has indicated its support for this, but no formal bid has been made yet.

“It would also help other Christians living in nearby homes to have a church school nearby, as there is no Church of England school in the Waterlooville area.

“And we hope that the churches can jointly fund an ecumenical community worker. Part of their job would actually be to help new residents discover the existing churches in Denmead, Waterlooville and Purbrook. And there are several different types of church to choose from already, so there’s no need for a new church building.

"But if, ultimately, a separate congregation began to develop, the school may be the ideal place for them to meet.”

And a new priest-in-charge, the Rev Phil Amey, currently curate at Church of the Holy Spirit, Southsea, has now been appointed to St John’s, Purbrook, with a view to taking on the newly-enlarged parish.