A Big Weekend Ahead
This weekend, a new team will join the congregation at St Thomas’ Bury while 25 parishes will be taking part in the first Parish Renewal weekend.
A significant milestone was celebrated on Sunday as Nelson Street Church in Rochdale commissioned and sent out the Revd Georgina Stirling and a team of 24 people as part of a new Resource Church for Bury.
During the morning service, the Revd Canon Janie Cronin and the congregation at Nelson Street prayed for Georgina and the planting team as they worshipped together before beginning this new season of ministry. The service was a joyful moment of celebration, thanksgiving and anticipation after many months of planning and preparation.
This new venture is in partnership with the existing congregation and team at St Thomas church in Pimhole, Bury. The first Sunday services led by Georgina will take place this weekend at 9.30am and 11am on 27th September and all are invited to attend. The project is part of our diocese’s wider vision for Church Planting and Revitalisation, with the expectation that St Thomas will develop as a thriving resource serving schools and communities across the parish, as well as encouraging growth across the wider area.
Speaking ahead of the first service, Georgina shared her excitement,
“We believe God is already at work in Bury, and we are looking forward to coming alongside the existing congregation at St Thomas’. Our desire is to become one community, learning from one another, building on the faithful ministry that is already here and serving our neighbours.”
The launch at St Thomas’ will take place during a significant weekend for mission and growth across our diocese. While the team prepares to take this next step, 25 parishes are also taking part in the first Parish Renewal weekend led by the Leading Your Church into Growth (LyCiG) programme, with Bishop Mark supporting and encouraging participating clergy and lay leaders.
Together, these initiatives reflect a shared commitment to helping churches grow in discipleship and mission. Whether through the establishment of a new Resource church at St Thomas or through the investment in Parish Renewal support, the aim is the same: to see more people encounter the love of Jesus Christ and become part of thriving worshipping communities.
As preparations continue for this weekend’s activities, we hold in prayer those making the move from Nelson Street, the existing congregation and community in Bury, and all those taking part in the LyCiG weekend. May they be encouraged and inspired as they seek God’s guidance for the future and continue to nurture disciples in their communities.