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The Bishop of Manchester was put through his paces during his pilgrimage visit to St James' Breightmet on Tuesday May 5 2009.
After beginning his visit with prayer in St James', the bishop visited Breightmet Health Centre where he met staff, before moving on to the Leverhulme sports facilities. Still in his episcopal purple cassock, the bishop was given a full work-out - on the track and in the gym.
The bishop was then taken by non-stipendiary minister, Alan Pierce to share Holy Communion at the home of parishioner, Mary Horrocks.
A community reception at the parish centre (the former vicarage) hosted by the church welcomed around 45 guests from church and local community, including the Mayor of Bolton, Local Councillors John and Linda Byrne and Arthur Norris, as well as staff from Daisy Chains Nursery and Breightmet Library.
A Pilgrimage service followed in St James'. Alice Booth, a long-standing, (third generation) member of the congregation told the story of St James' over the years, together with Carol Atkinson, who spoke of her involvement in the development of the parish centre, and Chris Hargreaves, who shared his experience as a relatively new member of the church.
Annabelle Hand and Lauren Bolton, two younger members of the church, returned the Run the Race baton to the Bishop at the end of the service.
Vicar of Breightmet, Revd. Greg Yarbury said, 'It went very well. Having the bishop go out into the local community takes a lot of time and energy to prepare, but it does raise our profile. Church members were inspired and enthused, and I was really pleased by the response of staff at the health centre, who were bowled over by the knowledge that a bishop had shown such interest in them and their work.
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