“Living for Christ at the heart of the community"

March Ramble – Cuddy Hill

Cuddy Hill is an area north of Woodplumpton. The starting point of the walk was the Plough At Eaves, a remote pub with a long and interesting history, dating from 1625 and used as a refuge by both sides during the Battle of Preston. A century earlier, The Battle of Cuddy Hill was fought here, between the Tudors and the Scots. Starting from the pub, we walked through fields and on into a private garden. During the drive down, the weather looked distinctly gloomy, but as forecast, the clouds started to lift and as we later approached the canal, the sun made an appearance. This stretch of the Lancaster Canal was quite pleasant, with open views of the fells to the East, including Parlick. (We will return one day!). A lone Heron took off from the water, guiding us to Read more

By The Editor, ago

Musings From The Manse: Spring 2012

Dear Friends, Being a relatively active person, it was with some dismay that I found myself having a period of ‘enforced rest’ towards the end of January. This was due to an existing problem with my knee being exacerbated by a loss of balance one morning as I stepped into the shower, and the twisting of said knee! ‘Knee’d-less to say, after a trip to A&E, I found myself with time on my hands, and inability to get about without the aid of crutches, and a new found respect and admiration for those who find getting around a challenge. It amazed me just how much I had taken my own mobility for granted. Suddenly not being able to pop upstairs for whatever I’d forgotten to bring down, became a particular sore point. And the fact that I had to totally Read more

By helen, ago

February Ramble – Adlington

After last month’s walk along the prom, we now needed to return to something a little more challenging. Unfortunately, the planned walk, Beacon Fell and the River Brock was changed because of ice on a couple of the steeper paths, so Bill, from our Bolton group, came up with this alternative, a walk to the East of Chorley, utilising the canal and a series of farm tracks and quiet country lanes. Starting from a lay-by on the A6, we quickly joined the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, heading North to Chorley. The canal was frozen in places but the weather was quite pleasant for walking, with little wind. After a couple of miles, we left the canal and started our steady ascent of Healey Nab, a wooded hill offering splendid views in all directions. A memorial woodland has recently been planted Read more

By The Editor, ago

January Ramble – Fleetwood

For the past two years, the January walk has been along Blackpool Promenade, due to severe snow and ice. However, this time the culprit was the soggy terrain after the recent heavy rain. For a change, we started at the top, at Fleetwood and headed for the central pier at Blackpool. Starting from the boating lake in beautiful walking conditions, we first headed west towards Fleetwood Golf Club. The tide was well out and the twitchers amongst us managed to bag a few species, including Turnstones, Goldeneye, Oyster Catchers, ringed Plover, Mute Swans,(Landing on the lake), and a Redshank. Now, the path turned South, with the Tower looking a very long way off. The huge concrete sea wall in this part of the walk is rather ugly, but very effective, looking how far debris from the recent severe storms had Read more

By The Editor, ago

Musings From The Manse: Winter 2011

  Dear Friends, You know, they say that one of the best ways to sustain a meaningful relationship is to keep talking to each other – whether that is just communicating the day’s events, or through a more in-depth conversation. It is an important part of keeping that relationship alive and fresh. I would say it goes for all our relationships, whether it’s personal or communal – but perhaps it is particularly vital when considering what should be our number one relationship – our relationship with God. Talking to God – aka Prayer – is the way we let God know how we are feeling – what we are doing – what we’d like to do – what problems we have…. and whilst it’s true that God already knows all of this before we even know it ourselves, God wants Read more

By helen, ago

Connexion Zone

.   This is the new title for the work amongst very young children.   In the last Messenger we outlined how, through links with Barnacre Road School and 2toSchool, we now have a special service once every half term.  In October we attempted a more adventurous type of craft work.  The theme for the service was the wise man who built his house on a rock.  When the children arrived, they were grouped round tables with their teachers and helpers and given gingerbread men to turn into ‘Bob the Builder’ biscuits by carefully (!) rolling out yellow icing to make his helmet and blue icing to make his trousers.  Quite a feat with 77 young children!   It was decided to buy rather than bake the required number of plain ‘men’ to decorate but this proved more difficult than expected.  It seems Read more

By The Editor, ago

Music In The Afternoon

Only two weeks following the Longridge Band Concert, Christ Church was yet again the venue for a musical feast.  Joyce Tindsley (Mezzo Soprano), making a welcome return visit along with Matthew Balson (Trumpet) and Geoff Balson (Piano and Organ), delighted the hundred plus audience with a varied programme of vocal and instrumental items. Matthew’s solos (on both Piccolo and Bb trumpets) were by Purcell, Handel and Thalben Ball with a final demonstration of his virtuosic abilities in a vibrant performance of ‘Carnival of Venice’. Geoff, who accompanied on both piano and organ, also gave an enthusiastic solo piano performance of ‘Hymnody’, an original selection of some of his particular favourite worship hymns and songs. Joyce began the concert by presenting a favourite of Kathleen Ferrier, ‘What is life to me without thee’ by Gluck followed by the folk song, ‘Blow Read more

By The Editor, ago

November Ramble – Coast To Carnforth

After last month’s aborted attempt at Parlick, we chose a very flat walk this time, along the Lancashire Coastal Way to Carnforth and returning via the Lancaster Canal. We started the walk from Hest Bank, having eventually got our cars across the level crossing over the very busy west coast main line. Those Virgin trains certainly go at some speed here. Our route north was along the coastal path, for the most part quite easy. The weather turned out to be ideal, warm, sunny and with little wind. The tide, something to be respected in these parts, was well in but didn’t provide a problem. After some pleasant walking, we encountered the first of two tricky bits where the grassy area was indented with many water filled channels which took some time to negotiate. But once passed this it was Read more

By The Editor, ago