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This
extraordinary sight is the famous ‘Pineapple Church ’ of
Bowburn, County Durham – complete with its detached ‘Rocket’ spire. The unusual combo –
more properly known as Christ the King Church – helped make the former pit
village rather well-known during its short lifespan, Bowburn being often
referred to as ‘Rocket City’.
The ‘Rocket’ was
the first to hit the skyline – in 1963 – being commissioned by Father Bill
Armstrong and designed by Harold Wharfe. The planned new church took a good
deal longer to build, being capped off with its fruity topping in 1976 and
dedicated in 1978. In case you’re wondering, the distinctive dome was made from
fibreglass.
However, like
much of that which was built in the 1970s, the church proved to be of
problematic design and questionable construction. It soon began to demand too
much in the way of maintenance, was closed in 2004 and then demolished in 2007.
A new, and painfully plain, church was built in 2008.
The crazy spire remained, though … but not for
long. In October 2009, shortly before it
was due to be cleaned, a gale brought it to ground. It was hastily carted off
to the scrapyard before anyone got the daft idea of re-erecting it.
Would you please consider
making a purchase from my e-Books4Charity website. There are currently six
publications up for grabs, and the majority of every sale goes to help
children's charities. Maybe you can write a booklet of your own for the
website?
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