Christ Church, Didsbury
and Saint Christopher,
Withington

The Bishop of Manchester, the Right Reverend Nigel McCulloch visited West Didsbury and Withington on Friday 2^nd November as part of a three-year long pilgrimage around the Diocese of Manchester. During his visit he met young people who are part of the Old Moat Youth Outreach Project (OMYOP), a  partnership for over ten years between Saint Christopher's church, the Old Moat Estate local community and the South Manchester Youth Partnership, now based in former shop premises on Mauldeth Road.

After beginning his pilgrimage with prayer at Christ Church West Didsbury, the bishop visited Clyde Court Residential Home on Barlow Moor Road where he met staff and residents. For many years, Christ Church has organized a regular communion service and pastoral visits to the home.

The bishop also visited a former treasurer of the church who still regularly attends church, but following a stroke now uses a wheelchair.

At a reception at St Christopher's,  the bishop met local councillors, and other community leaders. Following the reception, St Christopher's hosted the pilgrimage service, attended by local MP, John Leech. The service told the story of the church and the community in this part of South Manchester, including the recent joining of the two parishes into one single parish in December 2006.

Churchwardens from both churches, Steve Baird and Diana Kloss, took part in the service and, reflecting the Bishop's call to 'Run the Race', the

Photos from this Run the race Bishop's pilgrimage

Commonwealth Games baton was carried by Darren Cooper, a member of the church.

The vicar of the parish, the Revd. Anne Pilkington said:
"We hope that the spirit of this pilgrimage will give us heart in responding to God's love through worship and witness and service to the community. Our task is great because the new merged parish is very large and diverse.  "