Parishioners in Redcar have come up with a small way of promoting the Cause for the Canonisation of Blessed Nicholas Postgate by having badges made and offered for sale.

In recent years the previous four parishes that served Redcar, namely Sacred Heart, St Augustine’s, St William’s in Dormanstown and St Alban’s have been drawn together into a single parish now served by two of the churches, the Sacred Heart and St Augustine.

The process of joining the parishes together included Bishop Terry giving the new parish an overriding dedication and he chose one of our own martyrs, Father Postgate. Redcar parish is now known as the Parish of Blessed Nicholas Postgate incorporating the churches of Sacred Heart and St Augustine.

Parishioners are currently working hard to raise funds to add a hall and meeting rooms to the Sacred Heart Church to assist in developing the community life of the parish and provide much-needed facilities for RCIA, SVP, Legion of Mary and Children’s Liturgy of the Word, together with social activities.

In the last 12 months the parish fundraising committee has raised £15,000 towards its £500,000 target. The idea of selling badges to promote Blessed Nicholas Postgate will contribute to the fundraising while promoting the common identity of the newly established parish and the Cause of Blessed Nicholas Postgate.

With support from the Postgate Society, a parishioner has worked with a manufacturer to produce large numbers of the badges, which have already proved very popular. The badge features a small section of the Postgate Window by Thomas Denny in St Hedda’s Church, Egton Bridge.

The badges are distributed together with a copy of the prayer card that is made freely available by the Postgate Society and with the society’s encouragement will be offered for sale during this year’s Postgate Rally.

If you would like to buy a badge together with a copy of the prayer card, please contact Mick and Val Grainger either by calling 01642 477581 or emailing mickvalgrainger52@ntlworld.com. Badges cost £2 each, to include the free prayer card. If nine or fewer are ordered there is a post and package charge of £3. Orders of 10 or more badges will be post and package free.

For more information about Father Postgate, visit postgatesociety.org.uk.