St Aidan, Lower Kersal
& St Thomas, Pendleton

The Bishop of Manchester's visit to Lower Kersal and Pendleton, on Tuesday, December 11^th, 2007 began with prayers with church members from St Aidan's followed by tea and conversation.
The two parishes of St Aidan and St Thomas encompass the 'New Deal for Communities' area and the church is heavily involved in new initiatives aimed at improving the lives of local people.
The Team Rector, Fr Mark Haworth took the bishop next door to the Willow Tree Health Centre, which houses two GP surgeries, built on the site of the former vicarage and parish hall. The bishop met patients and manager, discussing how the centre meets the needs of Lower Kersal's rapidly growing asylum-seeker community. In a neat symbiosis, St Aidan's also hosts a regular monthly healing service.
The bishop visited Salford's new Sports Village, home of Manchester FA and met church youth football team, Pendleton Rovers FC, during their regular Tuesday evening training session at Albion High School. The bishop was then given a minibus tour of the parishes, taking in diversions to see progress at the new Emmanuel Anglican/Methodist Church and to see Holy Angels, Claremont, home on Sundays to an Elim Fellowship but  used by the Anglican congregation during the week. Holy Angels' Vicarage has gained a new lease of life as a base for Salford University's Anglican Chaplaincy.
At the reception at St Thomas', the bishop met representatives of the local community including ward councillors, and representatives of local schools. Tim Field, Chief Executive of New Deal for Communities in Salford also attended, together with  a representative of the Emmaus Community, a charity offering retraining to homeless people. Pam Heywood newly-appointed head of St George's CE Primary School attended the reception and service with the school's acting head, handing the Commonwealth Games baton to the bishop at the end of the Pilgrimage Service.

Photos from this Run the race Bishop's pilgrimage

Over 70 attended the Pilgrimage Service in St Thomas'. Arnold Allcock, organist & choirmaster, PCC vice-chair and treasurer and long-serving member of St Thomas', gave an overview of parish history and life today.
Team Rector, the Revd. Mark Haworth said: 'I was really pleased that all the effort of inviting people came together. A high proportion of those present came forward to be anointed. There was a good reaction to the worship; it was very moving and people left feeling both moved and 'charged' by the occasion.'
'I was delighted to be able to show the bishop things he'd only otherwise read about on paper - and it was a delight to have him here with us. Despite the hectic schedule there was no rush; he took his own time and he was great with people; no-one got left out, and everyone wanted to talk to him!'
The bishop's visit was carefully chosen as the climax of a series of events during 2007:
'We asked the bishop to come as part of a coherent plan, linked to a parish mission weekend and future plans to make our church a more welcoming, attractive and outward-looking  community. (These includes preparations for the first Pendleton Festival in July 2008.)
'We want to raise awareness and send out the message to our  community that the Church of England is not just surviving - we're very much alive and on the move - ready and eager to serve our local community.'