St Andrew's, Dearnley

St Andrew's, Dearnley and Smithy Bridge

A highlight of our activities to celebrate the grand opening of the new Wider Welcome community facility at St Andrew's, Dearnley, will be a concert in church on the evening of Saturday, December 14 by one of the renowned Maranatha Gospel choirs.

It will start at 6pm, entry is free and light refreshments will be provided after the concert in the newly extended and refurbished community facility.

The £115,000 project will be opened earlier that day, at 10.30am, by the Bishop of Middleton, the Rt Rev Mark Davies, a former Archdeacon of Rochdale, and local MP Simon Danczuk.

The Littleborough Training Brass Band will be in attendance and light refreshments will again be available.

Having been three years in the making, from the first fund-raising event back in 2010, the completion of this the most significant phase of the overall development represents a major milestone in the continuing journey of St Andrew's Church, which was opened in 1895 by the then Bishop of Manchester.

A 'Wider Welcome' and an open invitation to each of the weekend activities is extended to all parishioners, local residents and churchgoers old and new.

The celebration weekend on Saturday and Sunday, December 14 and 15, begins with the grand opening on the Saturday morning, takes in the Gospel Choir concert that evening at 6pm and continues on the Sunday, December 15, with a special celebration Sung Eucharist at 9.30am, headed by Bishop Mark.

It will be followed by a parish brunch.

The parish rota this Sunday, December 8, --- Sung Eucharist at 9.30am --- is: lay assistants, J Paterson, J Coomer; readers, S Knight, D Knight; Intercessions, S Knight; sidespersons, C Giles, R Fuller.

Anyone wishing to donate money for Christmas flowers in memory of loved ones is asked to speak to Barbara Gordon as soon as possible with details of the required dedication.

The pupils of St Andrew's School will have their carol concert on Tuesday (December 10) in two separate sessions at 2.30pm and at 6pm.