Churches Together in Horwich and Rivington
In addition to our Team Churches, we are joined by:
Horwich Christian Fellowship
Horwich Evangelical Church
Horwich Moor Methodist Church
Independent Methodist Church
St John Methodist Church
New Chapel United Reformed Church
St. Anthony's Chapel of Ease (RC)
St. Mary's RC Church
Below the Pike is the magazine of the Anglican Churches
of Horwich and Rivington, issued 10 times a year.
Its aim is to link the Team Churches
with each other and the wider community.
The contents are not exclusively religious
but encompass any matters of Christian or local concern
Current Ecumenical Projects
The primary purpose of this project is to build relationships with a group of local young people who may otherwise have few positive contacts with adults, church or community organisations. In doing this it is hoped to be able to sow the seeds of a more positive and hopeful view of life
Each Tuesday evening the Eden Double Decker Bus, a High Tech Mobile Youth Centre comes to Horwich with activities on board ranging from computer games, DVD's, music, jewellery making, to even simple things like skipping and parachute games in the street. Currently they are averaging 25 young people a week. The evening finishes with a God Slot, an opportunity for the young people to gather round and have a discussion time where the leaders can get the message of God over to them in a non threatening way hoping it will help in situations that they may face in their daily lives. These sessions have been well received and hopefully what they have heard will stay with them in years to come. The evenings are going really well with support from all the churches with over 50 people helping with the project in various capacities
Development of the project now includes local groups and organisations into the Tuesday night sessions with visits from Holy Trinity Scouts and Bolton Wanderers and in the summer holidays, hopefully a course run by the local Fire Service.
Both adult volunteers and the young people themselves enjoy the bus very much. God is tangibly present on those evenings and the leaders feel it is a great joy and a wonderful privilege to take part and work alongside each other and the young people themselves.
There is still opportunity for more volunteers – even if only able to commit to one Tuesday evening a month.
Men would be especially welcome as it is important that there is a good mix of both men and women which the young people can relate to.
Experience is not necessary just a willingness to love and come alongside these youngsters.
Age is no disqualifier – in fact many of our young people relate especially well to the older generation.
If you would like more details about becoming involved, email Jill Harley who will put you in touch with the right person.
Middlebrook Chaplaincy
Revd Wendy White is the chaplain at Middlebrook Retail Park, (ordained at the Reebok Stadium on 1st November 2008!) a new initiative set up with the support of the Churches Together in Horwich and Rivington and the local site management, last year. It is backed by a Management Team and works under the umbrella of Greater Manchester Industrial Mission.
Here, at one of the largest retail parks in the country, the aim of the chaplaincy is to offer a service to all the employees of the 50+ businesses and shops, by providing an independent, confidential, listening ear. It is not there to make judgements or to recruit people to church. Particularly at a time when retail is under such pressure, it offers an opportunity for people to let off steam, think aloud, explore possibilities and ask questions of someone who is outside the working structure of a business and not a family member.
It works because it is just about ordinary people being alongside other ordinary people, recognising God is out there in the market place already and it is just a case of joining in!
The task cannot be done by one person! The plan is to train and support teams of volunteers who will work with Middlebrook, getting to know the staff and businesses, developing a relationship with one or more stores or leisure outlets to enable that person to become a familiar and trusted figure.
So...if you are a man or a woman, young or old, working or retired you can be a volunteer.
Some may only be able to offer a day, half a day or a couple of hours a week or a fortnight
That's alright!
There is also opportunity for those willing or able to support occasional events such as handing out leaflets or singing carols at Christmas (as part of a group!).
Ministry comes in many forms.
For more information contact Jill Harley who will put you in touch with the right person.