Evangelical church hopes to make ‘positive contribution’ upon arrival in Waterford
The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) has plans to establish a church in Waterford city
An evangelical church has said it hopes to make a “positive contribution” upon establishing a premises in Waterford city.
The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) has plans to establish a church at an address of 35 Patrick Street.
It has applied for planning permission for the change of use of the building from retail to place of worship.
It has also proposed a number of minor alterations to the internal layout of the building.
In the cover letter attached to its planning application, UCKG has outlined its intentions upon establishing a church in Waterford.
A UCKG spokesperson said: “The proposed premises at 35 Patrick Street has been selected due to its central and accessible location within Waterford city.
“The property is well positioned to serve residents from across the city and surrounding areas, with convenient access by public transport, walking and other sustainable means of travel.
“We believe the proposed development will provide a positive contribution to the city and local community.”
They went on to outline the services and facilities that the new church will provide.
The spokesperson said that the church will provide a “place of worship and community gathering for local residents”.
As well as that, they stated that it will encourage “volunteering and civic participation through outreach programmes and local initiatives”.
Furthermore, the church has said it plans to support families in economic difficulty and deliver community-based initiatives.
The spokesperson added that the church will be a “welcoming and accessible environment that promotes positive community interaction”.
They continued: “Our activities are generally low-impact in nature and will be conducted with due consideration for neighbouring properties, local businesses and the wider community.
“We are committed to being a responsible and positive presence within Waterford and to developing constructive relationships with local stakeholders.
“We believe that the proposed use represents an appropriate and beneficial addition to the city centre and will provide both spiritual and community benefits to residents of Waterford.”
The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) is a large international Pentecostal evangelical church founded in Brazil in 1977.
It operates multiple spiritual help centres across Ireland which provide daily worship services, community outreach and support programs.
The original planning application in relation to its plans for Patrick Street was submitted on August 17. However, it was subsequently deemed invalid.
A further application was submitted on September 1 and has since been deemed valid.
A decision by Waterford City and County Council is expected by October 26.