St James's Moss Side

The Bishop of Manchester visited Moss Side on Sunday June 24^th 2007 to dedicate a chapel in memory of The Reverend Canon Dr Gerry Wheale, former Rector of Saint James' Moss Side, founder member and first Chief Executive of Mosscare and pioneer in the local housing association movement since the 1970s.

Canon Wheale's daughter, Sarah, has followed in her father's footsteps, becoming Rector of her father's former parish in 1999, following her father's death, and an Honorary Canon of Manchester Cathedral in June 2007 in recognition of her contribution to the life of the church and community in Moss Side and Whalley Range.

The new chapel, which now bears the name of Canon Bullock's father, will be used for prayer and open to the community every day, and on Sundays will be used for teaching the youngest children's group in the church.

The Bishop also dedicated a new stained glass window in the chapel in memory of three former members of St James, former church council secretary, Maurice Thomson, former choir member, Phoebe Browne and Hilda Spall - past member of the Mother's Union and, continuing the family theme, late godmother of the present Rector, Sarah Bullock.

The service also offered an opportunity to the community to tell their story (part of the theme of the bishop's pilgrimage). Councillor Roy Walters, former Lord Mayor of Manchester and member of Saint James's, spoke about his experiences of arriving in the UK from the Caribbean, while children of the Marathi congregation at Saint James's, led by The Revd Pankaj

Photos from this Run the race Bishop's pilgrimage

Devnoor, their priest, sang songs in Marathi and shared the story of their journey from Maharastra in Northern India to Moss Side.

A community reception followed the service. Guests included the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Manchester, Tony Lloyd MP, local councilors and community leaders, as well as other members of Canon Wheale's family.