A Ukrainian church in Oldham has been granted Grade II listed status in the lead up to this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

The Ukrainian Catholic Church of St Peter and St Paul and All Saints is one of several buildings in the north of England with Ukranian heritage that has been recognised by the listings system in the run-up to the contest, as a way of celebrating the “resilience and resourcefulness” of the communities.

The Ukrainian Catholic Church of St Peter and St Paul and All Saints started life as an Anglican church in 1889 and was adopted in 1987.

Heritage England said it is “a fantastic blend of English and Ukrainian religious traditions”.

Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England, said: “It feels right to celebrate Ukrainian heritage in the north of England as the nation gets ready to host Eurovision, on behalf of Ukraine.

“These places were established as safe spaces, over decades, by people who wanted to keep Ukraine in their hearts and their heritage alive.

“They show the resilience and resourcefulness of Ukrainian communities and their dedication to protecting their language, beliefs and way of life.”

Heritage England said Ukrainians began to settle in Manchester in the late 19th century and around 35,000 arrived following the Second World War as part of a scheme to address labour shortages by providing jobs in industry and agriculture.

The Oldham Times: The Rev Dr Taras Khomych praised efforts to highlight Ukrainian heritage The Rev Dr Taras Khomych praised efforts to highlight Ukrainian heritage (Image: PA)

More Ukrainians migrated to England following the collapse of the Soviet Union and, most recently, to escape the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Heritage England said these communities have often shared or adapted existing buildings.

The Rev Dr Taras Khomych – a Ukrainian Catholic Priest, senior lecturer in theology at Liverpool Hope University and chair of the Liverpool branch of the Association of Ukrainians of Great Britain, said: “Highlighting the stories of Ukrainian communities in the north of England is a wonderful way of supporting our heritage at a time when, once again, it is under threat in Ukraine.”

A Ukrainian community memorial in Bradford and a Ukrainian church in Salford have also been granted Grade II status.

A further three churches, in Manchester and Bradford, and a community centre in Huddersfield which are all already listed will have their stories updated on the National Heritage List for England (NHLE) to reflect the significance of their Ukrainian history.