St Margaret,
Whalley Range

The Bishop of Manchester visited the parish of St Margaret Whalley Range on Monday 2nd June, 2008 and met a wide cross section of the many different faiths and cultures that make up the local community.

After praying with church members in church, the bishop was taken to 
St Margaret's Church of England Primary School by a small group of churchwardens and parishioners. Between them, the children of St Margaret's speak 38 different languages and represent, as Vicar, the Revd. Robert Boulter puts it, 'every faith under the sun'. The bishop met with the senior management team of the school and heard about some of the issues facing a church school in such a mixed-faith community.

The bishop was then taken by churchwarden, Lloyd Lauder, to visit Abbotsford Nursing Home, which is home to a high proportion of Chinese residents, and then, finally to visit a housebound parishioner.

The reception in the church which followed emphasised the partnership between the local church and the many diverse groups in the parish, especially in education, medicine, counselling, care for those with HIV, and work with children and young people. The diverse faith groups of the area were well represented, including the various Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Hare Krishna communities.

The informal pilgrimage service was preceded by a jazz band playing in church and the service opened with African drumming. A community choir that rehearses in church each week, sang a selection of songs reflecting a global concern for peace and justice. The Revd. Robert Boulter said: 'It was a  great night.   

Photos from this Run the race Bishop's pilgrimage

I was particularly pleased that 99% of those who came to the reception stayed for the service, which was, for us about carrying the baton of faith, hope and love in our multi-faith community. I was also delighted that those of other faiths joined their Christian brothers and sisters in coming forward to be blessed and anointed by the bishop.'



He continued: 'The response I have received is that people felt it was a superb occasion. For our guests from other faiths it was an opportunity to meet our bishop and address their own particular concerns. The most important thing for us as a church was what happened beforehand and after the event.

'We used the video in the Run the Race pack and transcribed the bishop's words - using them to help with our own preparation and to inform how we follow up the pilgrimage visit. Everyone has told me how happy they were with the bishop coming, and how pleased they were with the way he affirmed all that we are trying to do.'