St Stephen,
Kearsley Moor

On Tuesday, 23rd October 2007, the Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Revd. Nigel McCulloch visited Kearsley Moor on the latest leg of his three-year pilgrimage around the diocese.

His visit had both an ecumenical and an international dimension as one of his ports of call was at Kearsley's Schoenstatt Shrine. The bishop met members of the Schoenstatt Community - a Roman Catholic movement founded in Germany in 1965, though now in approximately forty countries. The movement emphasizes pastoral care of families and young people and its UK base is in St Stephen's parish.

The bishop was taken by the vicar, the Revd. Kevin Wainwright to the Alderbank Community Care Centre. The bishop also chatted over a cup of tea with two senior members of Saint Stephen's: Hilda and Flo, who, between them, have contributed to the life of the church and school for some 170 years.

A community reception was held at St Stephen's CE Primary School at which Councillor Barbara Ronson, Mayor of Bolton, and her consort were guests, as were several local councillors as well as those representing a number of local groups in the community

Taking part in the Pilgrimage service which followed the reception were local Councillor and member of St Stephen's, Derek Burrows, and the Revd. Karen Owen, Chaplain of St James's CE Secondary School where many local children are pupils. Many members of the church contributed to the service - the flower arrangers even reproducing  the Run the Race badge as a floral arrangement in the church.

Handing the Commonwealth Games baton back to the bishop were

Photos from this Run the race Bishop's pilgrimage

Natasha Smith and Jenny Cox, both  Sunday School leaders at Saint Stephen's having been  members of the church since childhood as well as former  members of Brownies and Guide groups.

The Vicar, the Revd. Kevin Wainwright said: 'The service was both moving and inspiring, and many people commented afterwards on the bishop's powerful address and his sincerity.

His visit has revitalised our commitment to faith, and certainly I was both challenged and encouraged by what he said. I was both surprised and delighted by those who came forward for a blessing during the service.





The pilgrimage has also strengthened our existing links with other local church communities. We intend to build on the links that have been made and strengthened, and to keep in touch.

'It has been good to share Bishop Nigel's pilgrimage and to publicly renew our commitment to share the Gospel of Christ in our parish.'