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Though the Bishop of Manchester's visit to Thornham was on Thursday, July 9th, 2009, the Pilgrimage Service at St Leonard's Middleton on Tuesday 7th July marked the beginning of a new stage in the life of St John's.
The Pilgrimage service, attended by around 160 people, was the first joint act of worship of the new Middleton and Thornham Team Ministry, with music led by Middleton Parish School's Year 5 Choir as well as church music group and choirs.
Matthew Denny (18) handed the Commonwealth Games baton back to the Bishop. Matthew is a Yr 13 student at Crompton House School baptised and confirmed at St Leonards, drummer and guitarist in our Music Group and involved in our Youth Fellowship.
The church's story was summarised by a number of parishioners before the Rector outlined some of the challenges ahead in "Running the Race", 5 church members aged from young teens to over 60, spoke about their journey to faith and how that journey had continued through their lives.
Many of the invited guests said how moving they had found the service and most went up to be anointed with oil, including a baby and a lady from the nursing home who had been brought over in her wheelchair specially. Church members also spoke of the occasion as "touching" "magnificent" and "very moving".
On his visit to Thornham, the bishop visited St John's CE Primary School, where he met local children. He also
visited a local farm, a garden centre and popped in to the local pub.
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