St Thomas, Bedford

The Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Revd. Nigel McCulloch was entertained to a delicious hot-pot supper - in the middle of the church when he visited St Thomas, Bedford, on Thursday 10th April, 2008.

The supper was part of the bishop's Run the Race pilgrimage around the diocese, and he was well-entertained on his visit. As vicar, Father Anthony Mary OSB said: "if there's something we do well at St Thomas's, it's food; we had a full sit-down meal in the church. We don't do café-church here; we do restaurant-church!'

The bishop began by praying with a large group at All Saints' Church before visiting St Thomas's CE Primary School where he met staff and had a guided tour of the school, including the new building work and a new mural by the children which shows the Vicar blessing the school.

The bishop then visited Higher Folds where he visited the local community centre, and met younger members of the community, and learnt about the centre's ecumenical family project.

The bishop also popped in to 'High Peak' a residential home where he met residents and staff; a number of whom are church members. Fr Mary was delighted with the impact of the bishop's visit: 'It has made a really positive difference to our relationship with the home; its staff and residents' he said, 'though trying to hurry the bishop up is a bit difficult when people get talking to him!"

Speaking about the community reception and pilgrimage service which followed in the evening, Fr Mary said: 'We decided not to invite MPs, or councillors but local people who contribute to our community.

'We asked people to invite friends, and even some local homeless

Photos from this Run the race Bishop's pilgrimage

people came in.'

The meal naturally moved into the informal service: over 130 people remained at the tables where they had eaten. During the service two members of church, Ev and Gail, spoke from the heart about their Christian faith and what the church meant to them.





Returning the Commonwealth Games baton to the bishop were Philippa, a  teenager, her aunt and her grandmother: three generations, all of whom are regulars at St Thomas's.

Fr Mary recalls: 'The anointing went on for ever; nearly everyone wanted to come forward to be blessed, even one Muslim guest came forward. The bishop's visit has been talked about around the parish ever since. It hasn't necessarily increased the number of people who come to church, but it has done wonders in building stronger  relationships with our local community.'