Christian service in the community during the coronavirus crisis
One of our Readers, Sara Ashley, is also a part- time GP, but she has been working extra hours during the coronavirus crisis.
Kelvin Burgoyne a well-known artist and All Saints’ Church member who painted the lovely portrait below writes: ‘Artists are now painting their heroes and here is mine from All Saints’ Appley Bridge. Doctor Sarah Ashley you’re marvellous’
Big Brekkie 29th February 2020
The display in the photos below was in church to show people how the money raised for Christian Aid will benefit the farmers of Malawi by continuing their pigeon pea project.
Many thanks to all those who came and helped and took part in at the Big Breakfast. A fabulous £520 was raised.
More Christmas Decorations 2019
Community Carols
On Thursday 19th December 2019 the church choir, Phil our flautist, and many members of our church family led the singing of Christmas Carols in The Boathouse Pub Appley Bridge.
It was lovely to share the Christmas message with members of our community in this joyful way.
Christmas Decorations 2019
Christmas Puppet Shows 2019
Pupils from All Saints’ C of E Primary School, Little Acorns Nursery and from Shevington Primary School enjoyed Christmas puppet shows in church on Tuesday 10th December. Thanks to Tracey Fitzsimmons, Joanna Ashcroft and Dot Fairhurst for working with Reader Diane to share the Christmas message in a lighthearted way with so many children in our joint benefice.
Christingle 2019
Many thanks to everyone who attended our lovely and joyful Christingle service in All Saints’ C of E School on 8th December. This is a special service where we remembered that Jesus is the light of the world.
The collection will be in aid of the Church of England Children’s Society raised £169.20 .
Christmas Fair 30th November 2019
Huge thanks to everyone contributed so much to our very successful Christmas Fair 2019. Special thanks to Mark Ashley for co-ordinating the event, to Fur Clempt for the excellent catering, and to the parents, staff, friends and governors of All Saints’ C of E Primary School for hosting, and for all of their contributions. Everyone’s help was much appreciated.
A terrific £1,679 was raised. This money will help with the ongoing costs of running the church. It will help in enabling the church to continue serving the community and the school.
Crafty People
Our “crafty people” group which was set up in the autumn of 2019 is going from strength to strength – people enjoy meeting together and producing all sorts of unique hand made items. See our coming soon page for details of their meetings.
Lest we forget
There was a community remembrance service at the Appley Bridge War Memorial at the Community Centre on Remembrance Sunday 10th November 2019.
Members of the local community, the Police Force and our children’s uniformed organisations gathered outside the community centre for the service which included prayers, hymns, the laying of wreaths and a silence showing respect to those who gave gave their lives in armed conflict.
Local ministers: Fr Phillip Tuite from St Joseph’s RC Church Wrightington; Rev’d John Hilton from The Vale Methodist Church; Rev’d John Mountain and Reader Diane Green from All Saints’ Appley Bridge led the service.
All Saints’ Day 2019
All Saints’ Day, our patronal festival, was really special this year. Our guest preacher was Rev’d Gillian Watson. Rev’d Gillian used to be one of our parishioners and she was member of our church choir prior to her ordination.
We were also joined and blessed by Rev’d Cath Gabriel, also a former parishioner and chorister at All Saints’ prior to her ordination.
Rev’d Sue Timmins led the the service and reminded us of the importance of listening to God’s call. The service was followed by bring and share lunch and some enjoyable social time.
Harvest 2019
We welcomed over 200 children from All Saints’ Appley Bridge C of E Primary School and Shevington Vale Primary School on Monday 23rd September to see the harvest decorations, see our puppet show, learn about harvest and the hear the Parable of the Sower.
Special thanks go to our talented team of flower arrangers who did such a great job. Thanks also to the Reception Class from All Saints’ Appley Bridge C of E Primary School for Bob the Scarecrow and to the Appley Bridge Brownies for their prayers written on leaves which were used to decorate the windows at the back of church.
Bob the Scarecrow 
Brownies’ Thank You Prayers
Perishable harvest produce for was auctioned for the Christian Aid harvest appeal at our Harvest Supper on 23rd September. An excellent total of £776.10 was raised and this has been sent to Christian Aid.
Catering at the harvest supper was by Fur Clemt (The Wigan based food and cafe project, which aims to tackle food waste)
The Oaks food bank in Skelmersdale received donations of non-perishable food given at the church and school harvest services and assemblies.
It’s been a great harvest where we have thanked God, shared God’s word and shared with those in need.
Back to School Service
We had a great Back-to-School service on Sunday 1st September. Mr Hunter, one of our churchwardens, is also a teaching assistant at All Saints’ C of E Primary School. In response to being asked about the joys and challenges of his job, he wrote the rather splendid poem below.
Mr Hunter’s Back-To-School Poem
A is for amazing each and every one.
B is for best, I hope that they have done.
C is for caring – I always try to be,
D is for dinnertime, I have to eat you see!
E is for encouragement– this is a must.
F is for friendship and someone you can trust.
G is for goodness, guidance and grace.
H is for happiness when I see a child’s smiling face.
I is to include everyone in work and at play.
J is for Jesus who is with me every day.
K is for kindness I always give out.
L is for love and to spread it all about.
M is for making each child feel good.
N is for never stop helping– I don’t think I could.
O is for openness all over the class.
P is for potential that every child has.
Q is for questions when hands they are raised.
R is for results – right or wrong that they are praised.
S is for sharing in that they all learn.
T is the teamwork and all taking a turn.
U is for understanding when they are concerned.
V is for very good feeling when house points they’ve earned.
W is for worship in school and in church.
X is for excellence for which I always search.
Y is for young which the children help me keep.
And Z is for ZZZs when I finally get to sleep!
‘Team Clean Up’ Sunday 9th June
We had a great morning on Sunday 9th June. After fab Family Time where we learned about the Holy Spirit and Pentecost, our church joined forces with Friends of All Saints’ Appley Bridge C of E Primary School for ‘Team Clean Up’. Children continued the Holy Spirit theme playing with bubbles and balloons while parents and church volunteers set to work gardening and tidying.
It was a lovely morning with church and community coming together. Many thanks to all involved.
Toilet Twinning
Thanks to all our lovely Family Time people who raised more than £65 on Sunday 12th May to fund our Toilet Twinning project. We also decided that we would be supporting hygienic sanitation in a community in Sierra Leone in Africa. We will let everyone know the location of the community in due course.
The Easter Experience
On 24thApril 2019, children from years 2 – 6 of All Saints C of E Primary School visited church for the Easter Experience. The sang praise songs, undertook a runaround quiz, watched role plays and a video and wrote beautiful prayers in response to the Easter Story.
Easter Decorations 2019
Easter Eve Family Service
Ian Hunter 
On 20th April 2019 we met to anticipate the joy of Easter. We enjoyed drinks and hot cross buns. We had a fire to remind us of when Peter was in the courtyard and he betrayed Jesus. The fire also reminded us of the Holy Spirit and of lighting the way forward. We remembered the Easter story, renewed our baptism vows and light candle to celebrate the coming of the resurrection light.
14 Stations by Kelvin Burgoyne
A moving piece of Art work by Kelvin Burgoyne, one of our parishioners, has been on display in our church in the run up to Easter 2019 and has been used as part of our services. It depicts Jesus’ journey to the cross.
It is now displayed in the Jesus Chapel of Blackburn Cathedral.