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Visiting St Mary, High Crompton on April 30th, 2009, the Bishop of Manchester travelled round the parish in style, first, by pony and trap and then by quad bike.
After prayers at St Mary's, Bishop Nigel McCulloch travelled by pony and trap to Trent Stables where he met a number of riders with their horses, and enjoyed a tour of the stables, riding pillion on the owner's quad bike.
The bishop was also taken to visit High Crompton Park, where he was introduced to the Friends of the Park and tried his hand at bowling, with members of the club.
The bishop also visited St Mary's CE Primary School, where met staff and listened to and chatted with members of the school choir as they rehearsed for the pilgrimage service.
The bishop also found time to pop into the North Star public house, where he met the landlady and her daughter.
At a community reception in the school hall, church members welcomed guests including local councillors, Hazel and Chris Gloster and David and Diane Dunning. Parishioners baked a special Run the Race Pilgrimage Cake, with a model of the bishop holding the Run the Race baton made out of chocolate on the top.
The Pilgrimage Service included contributions by St. Mary's School choir and band, as well as young people's organisations, ended with the recommissioning of the church community and anointing with oil forthose who wished..
At the end of the service, the baton was handed back to the Bishop by the church Rose Queen, who is the youngest of four generations of the same family who all attend St. Mary's.
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