St Chad's, Tonge Fold

The Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Revd. Nigel McCulloch visited the parish of St Chad's Tonge Fold, Bolton, on Thursday 28th February 2008 during Fairtrade Fortnight.
After prayers in St Chad's, the bishop popped in on Mrs Margaret Manuel. Margaret was joined by Daphne and Ethel, members of the prayer group that meets in her home. The bishop chatted and prayed with them all before leaving.
The bishop also popped in on Dunstan Medical Centre, where he met practice manager and staff.
The next port-of-call was the          Co-operative store on Bury Road, Tonge Fold, where the bishop took part enthusiastically with local children from Moorgate Primary School in a Fairtrade treasure hunt around the store.
Minister-in-charge of St Chad's and Leader of the Phoenix Project, East Bolton, the Revd Sue Forrest-Redfern said: "We are grateful to our local Co-operative store for organising this fun  Fairtrade treasure hunt. The Co-operative and the Church are two front runners in the Fairtrade campaign so it is appropriate that we should come together during Fairtrade Fortnight."
A community reception, held in St Chad's hall and hosted by the Church Council was an occasion, in Mrs Forrest-Redfern's words, for "welcoming old friends and making new ones." Among those welcomed were the Mayor of Bolton, Councillor Elaine Sherrington and her Consort.
At the Pilgrimage Service the story of St Chad's, past and present was told by ordained local minister, the Revd Steve McGregor and Reader, Mrs Ann Eckersley. Handing the Commonwealth Games baton back to the Bishop were a group of young people (including Jade and Rachel Scowcroft, Kit and Anna Forrest-Redfern and Stephanie and Tiffany

Photos from this Run the race Bishop's pilgrimage

McGregor).
The Revd Sue Forrest-Redfern, said: "Bishop Nigel's pilgrimage began our 70th anniversary year of celebrations with a bang!
It's difficult to choose the best bit - was it seeing Bishop Nigel make such a brilliant impression on the co-op staff, and at the Medical Centre, or in the quiet meeting at Margaret's house? Or the excitement that grew and grew in the children from Moorgate School, the new friends we greeted at the wonderful reception? Or was it seeing the faces from St Chad's and the community that glowed for God as their foreheads were anointed by Bishop Nigel?


"All in all, it was a thoroughly encouraging and worthwhile event the positive impact of which is still being enjoyed by many."