'Internationally important' Oldham church mural saved by community

A historic Oldham church with a dazzling mural by a Hungarian émigré artist is being saved by the community. The Holy Rosary Church in Fitton Hill, which closed in 2017, will be transformed into a community arts and cultural heritage centre after a new board of trustees was formed to take over the building.

The church houses a unique mosaic created by George Mayer-Marton in 1955, depicting the Crucifixion in a striking combination of golden mosaic and fresco. The artwork, described as 'internationally important' by Historic England, was recently awarded Grade II-listed status after a campaign backed by local MP Jim McMahon.

The new trustees include Kim Rogers from Spark Oldham CIC, Ottilia Ördög from Beat Bazaar, former Hungarian Consul General Krisztina Katai-Nagy, and health and safety expert Stephen Haines. They plan to create a space for local young people to explore creativity while preserving the historic artwork.

Kim Rogers, who has worked on the Fitton Hill estate for over 15 years, said the building has 'so much potential' and called for local businesses to support the project. Ottilia Ördög added that celebrating the international artwork would help raise pride across the community and strengthen local identity.

The mural, one of only two surviving ecclesiastical works by Mayer-Marton, uses Byzantine mosaic techniques rarely seen in the UK. While parts were painted over in the 1980s, recent investigations suggest restoration is possible. The project represents a rare opportunity to preserve both cultural heritage and create new community facilities in one of Oldham's most deprived areas.