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On his pilgirmage to the parish of the Good Shepherd and St. Barnabas, Eastlands, on Sunday 22nd February 2009, the bishop of Manchester brought the Commonwealth Games baton back to its spiritual home - the stadium where it was first held aloft in 2002.
The bishop's visit is about looking forward rather than back, though, as the Rector, the Revd. Canon Roy Chow explains: "We're going through a time of regeneration in the area. As part of this, one our buildings; the Church of the Resurrection is to be demolished to make way for the new East Manchester Academy High School, due to open in September 2010. The bishop's visit was the occasion for the final service in the old church."
During the service the bishop led the congregation to the site of the new church (200 yards away), where Assistant Bishop Rupert Hoare, who was the first Rector of the parish from 1972-78, blessed the new site.
Guests at the service included members of the Eternal Life Sanctuary of Christ Ministry, part of the Cherubim and Seraphin Church which used to meet in the church and will now meet in St Barnabas, as well as representatives of the local community and members of other churches in area. The congregation returned to the Church of the Resurrection for refreshments and a community reception.
Rector, Roy, born and brought up in parish, spoke of how the changes would affect church and community life: "We will worship in school on Sundays, while weekday activities; a community cafe, an African integration project, Bible study, meetings, and Mothers' Union for example, will all happen in a shop
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