Bury Unitarian Church

MY RECENT VICE-PRESIDENTIAL DIARY

On November 17th, I conducted the service at Flowergate Chapel, where Roger and I were made very welcome; at the end of the service, we celebrated the Golden Wedding Anniversary of two of their members, with afternoon tea---a lovely touch. Flowergate Chapel is truly a hidden gem; it is not visible from the street, but tucked away behind a dull green, wooden gate, and its exterior notice-board is obscured by a street-lamp. This is a great pity, as the chapel is delightful---simple, and tranquil, with some beautiful stained-glass windows. We were able to try out a newly-prepared audio-tour, which took us round the town (not without mishap!) and gave much information about Francis Haydn Williams, a former Minister, and something of a revolutionary; see the Flowergate website for further details! December brought many services at Bury; on December 1st, at our 300th Anniversary Service, I welcomed visitors to our church, as well as conveying the greetings of those who had been unable to attend.

At our Carol Service, I sang with the choir, and also presented thoughts on how we might approach the Christmas-season. I attended services at Bury, on the 15th, 22nd, 25th, and 29th of December, and went to Padiham's Candlelight Carol Service, on the 15th---an excellent service, enhanced by the trees of their Christmas Tree Festival. An event of a rather different kind took me to Atherton, on Saturday, December 21st, when I attended the memorial service for the Pretoria Pit Disaster there. This occurred in 1910, with a new memorial-stone being erected 100 years later; the memorial-stone is inscribed with all 344 names of the miners who died when an explosion occurred, and the tremendous loss of life is commemorated annually; wreaths are laid, and the National Union of Mineworkers' banner pays silent tribute, too. Rev. Lynne Readett is the first Unitarian Minister to be asked to conduct the service of remembrance, which I felt was worthy of support---and very moving I found it.

January began busily, with two services to attend on the 5th: Brenda Catherall conducted her last service at Chowbent before she retired, and I was privileged to be able to present the greetings of the GA, to congratulate her on a highly-successful 30-year ministry, and to wish her a long and happy retirement; the day was also Brenda's 64th birthday, so she had much to celebrate. In the afternoon, I attended the service at Rawtenstall, when a triptych, specially-commissioned by the Lancashire Collaborative Ministry, was unveiled; each painting, by local artist, Joyce Wicks, had been inspired by scenes from the chapel-windows, and they were superb. Ade read a piece in which he argued that the hymn, "Jerusalem", was the perfect hymn for Unitarians, as it questioned everything and urged everyone to fight for freedom and right. Kate and Marian sang with Roundelay, whose music filled the chapel wonderfully---altogether, a different but inspiring service. On January 12th, I conducted my first service of 2020, at Bank Street Bolton where I received the warm welcome I have become accustomed to receiving there; they are always a most appreciative congregation.

The incoming GA Vice-President, who will serve from April, 2020, for a year, is Rev. Sue Woolley, who ministers to The Midland District; I have sent our congratulations; she will do an excellent job, I know!

Click here to read all Anne's diary entries since her installation