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On the cold Friday evening of March 9 Bishop Nigel visited Christ Church Heaton. Canon Chris Bracegirdle, the vicar at Christ Church, explained: "People rose to the occasion and we were absolutely thrilled by it all."
Following a short service of welcome and prayers Bishop Nigel visited a young family who joined the church twelve months previously through a baptism contact. He then went to see one of Christ Church's oldest members, a widow in her 90s who is very alert.
The community reception took place in Christ Church Parish Centre which is next door to the church. Members of Christ Church laid on an informal buffet and drinks. Bishop Nigel said grace. There were representatives from the local council, local non-church schools, and some organisations who use the parish centre, and Christ Church uniformed organisations. Canon Bracegirdle said: "We managed to get quite a good mixture of people who have either got some fringe association with the church or perhaps no particular association."
The pilgrimage service followed the community reception. Canon Bracegirdle said: "We were delighted to see that we had about 100 people there representing our five congregations across the week. When the Bishop invited people to come forward for the laying on of hands and the anointing probably 80% of those present came forward, it was a good response." Bishop Nigel handed the baton to Canon Bracegirdle at the beginning of the service and at the end it was returned to Bishop Nigel by a reader. Canon Bracegirdle added: "We kept the theme of contrast for the church's story part of the
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