St John, Cheetham

The Bishop of Manchester, the Rt. Revd. Nigel McCulloch visited St John's Cheetham in October 2006 as part of his pilgrimage around the diocese. After arriving at about 4pm, the bishop attended a community reception held at St John's for nearly a hundred guests. The church enjoys very good links with the diverse faith communities of Cheetham Hill and the bishop was able to meet a significant number from the local Sikh Gurdwara, members of the Muslim community and 'First Asian Support Trust', a local Asian community organisation, as well as ecumenical representatives from 'Churches Together in Manchester 8'.

A number of groups and community organisations in Cheetham Hill were also represented, including many of the staff of Temple Primary School (which, though not a church school, has very strong links with the church), local councillors and representatives of Manchester City Council, as well as members of WAST (Women Asylum Seekers Together), many of whom were eager to tell the bishop their own stories, and to seek his support for their particular campaigns to avoid deportation. Priest-in-charge, Revd. Daniel Burton said, 'We were amazed not only by how successful the event was, but how significant the bishop's visit seemed to those from the wider local community, especially those of other faiths, and by how his ongoing engagement with them struck a chord.'

As the Pilgrimage Service in church was not to follow immediately after the reception, before guests departed, the bishop led a short act of worship, offering to pray with, and to give an individual blessing to, anyone who wished to respond. The response was enthusiastic and the occasion was described as 'incredibly moving'.

Before the Pilgrimage Service at St John's, the bishop walked to Trinity United Church, the other centre of worship in the parish, and an Anglican - URC local ecumenical partnership. Trinity is the home of the Welcome Centre - a drop in for refugees and asylum-seekers. There

Photos from this Run the race Bishop's pilgrimage

the bishop met the parish's community- development worker and Welcome Centre volunteers, as well as other parishioners.

The bishop then returned to St John's for the Pilgrimage Service. Again, the response was 'enthusiastic' and at the end of the service, the congregation eagerly came forward to be anointed by the bishop.


During the service George Fletcher, from Trinity and Alma Weekes, of St John's, spoke of the history of both churches and Gregory Braimeh spoke of his reflections of life in the parish as a more recent member of the church.

The priest-in-charge, the Revd. Daniel Burton, reflecting on the occasion, said, 'Though it sounds a cliché, the bishop's address really was inspiring: he fired everyone up. The time he spent carefully listening and speaking to people, especially those asylum seekers who had come specially to meet him meant a great deal to them.'

Since the bishop's visit the church is pleased to report that at least one of those seeking asylum has been granted