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The Bishop of Manchester's visit to St James' Higher Broughton on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 didn't quite go according to plan - due entirely to the heavy rain which forced plans to sing carols outside a local supermarket to be rearranged.
After a brief time of prayer in the Rectory, the bishop visited "Project SJR"; a housing project across the road from St James, that works with specific groups of people with particular housing needs, including refugees. The bishop met staff and found out about the project's work.
In order to enable the church to sing carols in the evening, the Pilgrimage Service was held at the earlier time of 5.15pm. Over a hundred crowded into St Clement's as younger members of the church told the story of St James`: "the church built on a cabbage patch". The simple but moving service concluded with the anointing - a symbolic moment of personal re-commissioning for everyone who wanted it.
As the service ended, local groups arrived with Christmas trees under their arms to contribute to a Christmas Tree Festival hosted by St James' before joining the congregation at a buffet reception next door in the church hall. Weeks earlier, St James' had given the trees to local community groups to decorate in a way that reflected their unique contribution to community life.
Participating groups included Cheetwood, Marlborough Road and Brentnall Primary schools, The Broughton Trust (a local community development group) the local history society, the Brownies and Liberty House; a young people's housing project.
Fr David McFarlane, parish priest of St Thomas of Canterbury RC church
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