Iconic Doncaster bookshop to re open in new a location after being shut for a year

The Maridon Catholic Bookshop was open in the Marridon Centre for 30 years but closed due to running costs.

It is now due to reopen in new premises to Wood Street, opening on September 3.

Father Darren Reid, Parish Priest of St Peter’s in Chains, said: “There was a unanimous desire to keep the bookshop.

“It will be a place where people can go for resources of a religious nature.

“There will also be texts which help to prepare children for communion and couples for marriage.”

It will sell religious books, items, and statues.

The shop will be run by volunteers and welcomes anyone of any faith to shop there.

“Everyone is welcome you don’t need to be religious - it’s open to absolutely everyone,” Father Reid continued.

“We want the doors to be open and for everyone to feel welcome.”

“Attendance is down but there is a greater searching for religious awareness.

“The days are gone where people blindly went to church as a custom for Christmas and Easter.

“This bookshop will provide people a place to dig deeper and learn more about religion.”

The previous bookshop in the Maridon centre has been in the town since 1988 and is a part of Doncaster’s history.

“It’s the only shop of its nature in Doncaster - customers used to come from all over to visit the shop.

“We’ve had to wait roughly a year before opening in the new premises.

“The shop is part of the church presence in the town and will be a service for people to find texts which are not widely available anywhere else.”

The new shop on Wood Street is actually closer to the church St Peter’s in Chains which will be more convenient for church attendees.

“There are lots of changes happening in Doncaster at the moment - lots of investment.

“It’s good to be a part of it with the new shop,” he said.