Last week marked the conclusion of Canon Phillip Blinkhorn's tenure as Chair of the Diocesan Board of Finance. Phillip has dedicated nearly five decades to serving the diocese, first joining Diocesan Synod in 1976 before becoming Chair of the DBF in 2012. At Synod, Bishop David presented Phillip with a gift as a token of the diocese’s appreciation.
On Sunday and Monday, over 300 members of clergy and readers gathered at Holy Family Failsworth and Manchester Cathedral On Sunday and Monday, over 300 members of clergy and readers gathered at Holy Family Failsworth and Manchester Cathedral for a day to study the Gospel of St Luke.
On Saturday, lay leaders from Bolton Deanery gathered for the very first Deanery Lay Leadership Conference. Readers, ALMs, Churchwardens, Children and Youth Leaders, Treasurers and PCC members came together for a morning of worship, fellowship and leadership training.
Our annual schools conference, held in Manchester Monastery on Friday, was a great success with over 180 school and church leaders attending. The day was entitled ‘Distinctly Christian in a Changing World.’
Last weekend, over 90 Authorised Lay Ministers were authorised and commissioned at Manchester Cathedral. This included 40 new ALMs who have just finished their training and 50 ALMs who were being re-authorised for ministry in their parish. Between them they represented ten areas of ministry and many there we also marking ten years of service!
The Bishop of Manchester, The Rt Revd Prof David Walker is delighted to announce the appointment of The Revd Phil Cansdale as Manchester Diocese’s new Director of Mission and Ministry.
On Sunday, children and families from St John's Church in Failsworth set out on an eight mile walk in the pouring rain to raise money for the Friends of St John' Church Appeal. Despite the conditions, the walkers kept their spirits high as they raised over £2,200 toward a fund to make the church a multipurpose, accessible and social building.
Manchester Diocesan Board of Finance and Board of Education have been awarded the Investors in People 'We invest in people' Gold Award recognising the effective leadership, ongoing support and motivated team based at St John's House.
Last night, Manchester Cathedral hosted a very special Evensong during which the Venerable Karen Smeeton was installed as Archdeacon of Rochdale, five new Honorary Canons and one new Lay Canon were installed, and the Revd Canon Anne Edwards was welcomed as Bishop David's Senior Chaplain.
On Saturday, six new Focal Leaders were commissioned for Rochdale Deanery during a service at Rochdale Parish Church.
