New vicar for town

The new Vicar of Rochdale, the Rev'd Mark Haworth, will be installed in his new post this month.

Mr Haworth comes to Rochdale from Salford, where he has been a Team Vicar and Borough Dean.

Mr Haworth will serve the newly-united town-centre churches of St Chad and St Mary in the Baum, who have been without a vicar since the retirement of the Rev'd Dr David Foss last year. 

He will be installed at a special service at Rochdale Parish Church, St Chad's, on Sunday 22 January at 3.00pm.

The Induction Service will be conducted by the Bishop of Middleton, the Rt Rev'd Mark Davies, and the Archdeacon of Rochdale, the Ven Cherry Vann.

Rev’d Howarth will be welcomed by members of the congregation in a series of short ceremonies at points around the historic church. The churchwardens will then formally present him with the keys to the churches.

The Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Mr Warren Smith and the Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Alan Gordon, will also be in attendance.