A NEW church in Barrow is set to be given the backing of the Bishop of Carlisle this weekend.

Reverend Robin Ham, 34, will become Pioneer Minister with responsibility for Grace Church, a new church that seeks to serve Roose and Holbeck with a particular focus on those who might not be drawn to traditional church.

The Rev Ham has spent the last three years serving his curacy in South Barrow as part of his training for ordained ministry in the Church of England. Part of this role included seeking to launch a new church community.

He said: “Since the closure of St Perran’s in 2014 there has been no church in the Roose, Yarlside and Holbeck area.

"This absence led to members of the local community discussing what might be possible.

"My family moved to Barrow in summer 2015 to be part of that journey, and two years later Grace Church Barrow was born.

“We’ve loved becoming part of the Barrow community.

"Two of our kids were born here and our oldest has started school here.

"So it’s a delight to be able to stay, and it’s really encouraging that the Bishop is committed to seeing Grace Church develop.”

Grace Church meets at 10am in the Roose Conservative Working Men’s Club on Leece Lane and has a small but growing congregation of different ages.

Canon Gary Cregeen, Rural Dean of Barrow, said: “Robin has already made himself part of the community here in Barrow, not least in working with local schools, in his role as Chaplain at Furness College and in chairing the team behind the Believe in Barrow 2017 festival of faith.

"We’re thrilled about how things are developing with Grace Church and delighted the Diocese is supporting this ministry.”

Visit www.gracechurchbarrow.co.uk for more information.