St Clement, Spotland

A welcome banner and balloons festooned the church for the visit of Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Revd. Nigel McCulloch to St Clement's, on Monday February 25th, 2008.
After meeting with a dozen or so people to pray at the beginning of his pilgrimage, the bishop visited Lane Head Stables where he met to stable hand, Hayley - and the fourteen horses in her care. He learned about the horses' routine and heard concerns about the possible re-opening of a local quarry and the effects that this would have on both the stables and local area.
The bishop then met Joan Turner, a local resident for fifty years and chair of the Brotherod Residents and Tenants' Association for about twenty. Younger residents chatted with the bishop and told him about the work of the community association; the well-used Daniel Fold Community House and mini-bus which regularly takes youngsters to a variety of activities.
At Passmonds Nursing Home Bishop Nigel met the Revd. Jim Henderson, a retired priest in the diocese for many years, who assisted the parish during a previous vacancy. The bishop chatted with Jim and gave thanks to God for his ministry.
The church hall was the venue for a community reception for 50 members of the local community, including Norman Smith, former local councillor and brother of former local MP, Sir Cyril, local councillor Greg Couzens, Headteacher of Meanwood School, Vivien Roocroft,  and Sue Devereaux of Rochdale Adult Care Services, who use the church hall regularly.
St Clement's went the extra mile in making the church ready for the Pilgrimage service; silver batons decorated the pew ends and a specially made baton was presented to the bishop. Younger members, Rachel and Lauren Brierley and Daniel Buckley of 'Clemmie's Club'  reflected on the future of the church

Photos from this Run the race Bishop's pilgrimage

and rolled out a 'race track', with individually decorated feet representing every member of the church, stretching along the centre aisle of the church.
Colin Gibson, church-warden for 22 years and PCC member for 50, gave a brief history of the church, before Linda Mainwaring, reflected on the richness of Christian life in the present - a theme picked up on by the bishop who spoke of the 'sacrament of the present moment', and emphasising that without the church of today building the Kingdom of God in the present, there can be no future.
The congregation responded enthusiastically to the bishop's invitation to come forward for a blessing and to be anointed with oil as a sign of being renewed in God's service. 'This was the most powerful part of the service' said vicar, the Revd. Lynne Connolly. Comments since then have reflected the strong response that those present had: 'How wonderful the service was' said one, 'I was moved to tears'. Another worshipper said, 'The power I felt at the laying on of hands and anointing was incredible'
Looking to the future, the baton was returned to the bishop by Freda Coupe, Amber & Georgia Couzens, representing all ages of the church.