Medlock Head Team

The Bishop of Manchester visited the parishes of the recently-formed Medlock Head Team on Monday and Tuesday, April 21 & 22, 2008 as part of his Run the Race pilgrimage around the diocese of Manchester.

Arriving at Holy Trinity Waterhead, the bishop prayed with clergy and church members, after which he was taken to the after-school club at Holy Trinity CE Primary School.

The bishop then visited residents and staff at Moorhaven Care Home

Arriving at St Barnabas' church just before six o'clock, the bishop worshipped with church members before opening and dedicating the new link between church and hall.

Tuesday April 22 began with the bishop praying the pilgrimage office at the church of St John the Baptist. He then visited the after-school club at St John's church hall and joined church-members who have committed themselves to pray for the parish house by house, during weekly Street Prayers, meeting locals on Medlock Way along the way. Team Rector, the Revd. Richard Hawkins said: "The bishop was highly enthusiastic and told us 'this is basic evangelism - this is what we all should be doing!"' Volunteers post prayer cards through all the front doors of one street inviting people to respond by phone or e-mail with requests for prayer. These are followed up as we pray our way along the street in the late afternoon.

A community reception at St John's Hall had a wide cross-section of local people. The Team Rector explains, 'We decided to focus our invitation not on the 'great and the good' but towards those from our neighbourhood who might not usually be invited to occasions like this: people like our local lollipop lady, managers of our nearby care homes, community police officers

Photos from this Run the race Bishop's pilgrimage

and local newsagents.'

A Pilgrimage service for the whole Team was held at St John the Baptist, Hey. Mavis Clegg, longstanding member of St John's told the story of St John's, while warden, Jacqui Adams, spoke about St Barnabas Clarksfield and Ruth Lees spoke about Holy Trinity Waterhead. Three younger church members, passed the Commonwealth Games baton back to the Bishop at the end of the service.




Reflecting on the bishop's visit, Team Rector, Richard Hawkins said, 'it went really well; better than many people had expected. Those who weren't initially enthusiastic about the pilgrimage were amazed and delighted at the way people were brought together. I was pleased by what a positive experience the two days were.

'At the end of the service, when even those who have expressed scepticism about the church in the past came forward to be anointed by the bishop, a number of us were very moved by the power of the occasion.'