“Living for Christ at the heart of the community"

Musings From The Manse: Winter 2010

Dear Friends, Life as a Minister can often be as confusing as it is rewarding. Let me explain…. At the moment there doesn’t seem to be a day goes by without some new initiative or mission opportunity dropping into my post-box or clogging up my ‘inbox’ – all of which call for either my own or Christ Church’s time and energy. There is just so much around to choose from – including the Vision4Life Year of Evangelism (which begins in Advent), and the launch of ‘Bible Fresh’ (a partnership of over 50 agencies, festivals and denominations, including the Methodist Church, who are joining forces to encourage and inspire churches and individuals to make the most of the Bible in 2011 – which is the 400th Anniversary of the King James Bible.) As a church with two parent bodies, each clamouring Read more

By helen, ago

Star Festival

  The theme of our decorations this year is to be The Star. If you want to make one or more stars to contribute, please bring them to church on Thursday December 16th between 10.00am and 4.30pm. (Stars can be any size and made of any material. Large cardboard star shapes could be covered with collages or pictures illustrating some aspect of Christmas) The Church will be open for viewing and refreshments on Friday December 17th between 10.00am and 4.30pm and Saturday December 18th between 10.00am and 2.00pm

By The Editor, ago

Biblefresh

In 1608 King James I ordered a team of 50 scholars to translate the Bible into English. Until this time the authorities had usually frowned on making the Bible available in anything but Latin or Greek and most translators were persecuted or even martyred. In 1611 King James had copies of the new translation he had commissioned placed in every Parish Church in England so that for the first time ever most ordinary people could hear the Bible in their own language. Next year (2011) therefore is the four hundredth anniversary of what we now know as the Authorised or King James Version of the Bible. Of course our language is constantly evolving and since then there have been at least 28 more translations of the Bible into English and we can all choose to read it in a version Read more

By The Editor, ago

November Ramble – Haigh Hall

Haigh Hall and its surrounding country park are situated to the North-East of Wigan and provide a variety of pleasant walks with links to the local industrial heritage. Bill, from our Bolton group, kindly offered to lead us on this walk, in a part of the county that is somewhat further south than we usually venture. Starting from the car park at Haigh Hall, we walked for a short distance along the entry road before entering a series of pleasant farm tracks with splendid views to the West. The weather turned out to be brilliant, in contrast to the heavy showers back home. Eventually, we arrived at Red Rock Lane and in a short while, entered the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, heading south on yet another section of this attractive waterway. Later, leaving the canal, we joined the other main Read more

By The Editor, ago

The October Ramble – Knott End

This month’s walk was taken from our back catalogue, having walked it some years ago with Sylvia and Pete. The turnout was a little unbalanced, with two from Longridge and three from Bolton. Starting from the car park by the jetty, (I did consider a start from Fleetwood and crossing the Wyre by the ferry, using our ‘bus passes), we walked along the river path in pleasant walking conditions as far as Sea Dyke Cottage, from where we climbed up the embankment and followed a path around the golf course and across to Hackensall Hall. From here, a farm track led us to a footpath which is the bed of the old Knott End to Garstang railway, known as the ‘Pilling Pig’. We next followed the roads around Preesall for a little while before entering a narrow lane where we Read more

By The Editor, ago

The September Ramble – Around Scorton

This month it was Veronica’s turn to lead us and she was flying solo, as Neil had to act as clerk of works on a patio project. The walk started from the Scorton Picnic Site car park, from where we joined a footpath along the left bank of the River Wyre, After recent heavy rains, the river was in full flow and the forecast for the day was for more heavy showers, but mercifully for us, they did not materialise. The path now left the river, climbed a steep embankment and then followed the M6, before heading west across fields and along quiet lanes towards Cleveley Bank Farm, over the railway and on to cross the A6, over more field paths to join the Lancaster Canal at Ratcliffe Bridge. The canal was now followed south and we were able to Read more

By The Editor, ago

Musings From The Manse: Autumn 2010

Dear Friends, When you read this, I will hopefully be enjoying the bracing landscape and seascape of the North of Scotland – specifically Thurso and the surrounding area – a place the Higgin-Botham’s have not ventured to before! Colin has great plans to resurrect his passion for fishing – though as yet he has no actual fishing gear – so I think the fish will probably be safe! Basil will, I’m sure, enjoy racing along the beautiful beaches and sniffing lots of new and exciting places. Thankfully, whilst he may behave like a small child at times, there will be no danger on the long journey up to Thurso, of him asking ‘Are we there yet’! As for me, I won’t exactly be putting my feet up for two weeks! Going to this remote part of the British Isles was Read more

By helen, ago

“A Great Day Out!”

Summer Outing with Churches Together In Longridge (CTL) That was the view of the 30 people including 9 from Christ Church, who went on the summer outing to Lancaster, Heysham and Morecambe. First stop was a guided tour of Lancaster’s Roman Catholic Cathedral, originally St. Peter’s R.C. church. It was consecrated in 1859 but became a Cathedral in 1924 when the Diocese of Lancaster was created; then in 1995, re-ordered and redecorated. It is a spacious Gothic building with a 240 foot tower and spire and wonderful stained glass windows depicting the life of St. Peter, which, with sunlight streaming through, create an immense area of light and peace. One senses too, that as well as a being a cathedral, it has a very strong and supportive parish community. After coffee we travelled the short distance up the hill to Read more

By The Editor, ago

The August Ramble – Longridge Fell

Liz and Pete were in charge this month and the walk was one of our local gems, Longridge Fell. Meeting at the church, our party, including Pauline on her first outing with us, headed up the hill in three cars and parked at the Jeffrey Hill car park. From here, we walked along the road towards the New Drop for a little way and then picked up a footpath that took us towards the trig- point. Here we crossed a wall and entered the dense forest. Longridge Fell is notorious for poor drainage and extreme mud, but our walk today was pleasantly dry and the weather turned out better than forecast and a must for this fell, clear, so that the stunning views can be enjoyed. We now joined a wide forestry road and noted that many trees had recently Read more

By The Editor, ago

The July Ramble – White Coppice/Brinscall

During the temporary absence of our leader, recent walks have been led by a number of volunteers and this month, Bill, from our Bolton friends, offered to lead us on a walk in an area he knows quite well. The walk started at the cricket ground at the pretty and very English hamlet of White Coppice. As today was match day, the catering corps. were doing a great job in their little hut, which was just as well as someone forgot to bring their dinner with them. Leaving the cricketers behind, we ascended the southern flank of Heapy Moor to Drinkwaters, where a number of paths merge and from this lofty point, excellent views were enjoyed in all directions, particularly to North Wales as far as Anglesey. From here, our route led us across open moor land to a ruin Read more

By The Editor, ago