Blind faith of a daring bishop

GIDDY up . . . the Bishop of Manchester takes the reigns on a horse and cart with Trent Riding Stables proprietor Esme Hernon

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THE adventurous Bishop of Manchester enjoyed unusual methods of travel as he gave High Crompton folk his blessings.

The Right Rev Nigel McCulloch is carrying a baton from the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games to every parish in his diocese as part of his “Run the Race” pilgrimage.

And he inspired the younger generation in High Crompton as he took to a horse and cart and quad bike — then played some bowls during a visit to the St Mary’s Diocese.

His trip started when he was welcomed to St Mary’s Church and then taken to St Mary’s School, where the choir impressed with a performance.

He was then taken by horse and cart to Trent Riding Stables to talk to and watch youngsters on their horses before being whisked on a quad bike for refreshments at the North Star pub.

The Bishop met Shaw and Crompton Parish Council chairman Councillor Hazel Gloster, Councillor David Dunning, members of the Friends of High Crompton Park, scouting and guide groups and Rose Queen Laura Devall.

He then met the ladies bowling team at the park and had a go at bowls before St Mary’s School band performed and he was presented with a special cake.

The event ended with a service at the church where the Bishop gave a blessing to everyone.

Father Alan Butler said: “He really enjoyed the quad bike and loved the horse and cart. It was an exciting and fun-filled day.

“The heart of the service was a slide show of different aspects of the church going back to the turn of the century, telling the history of High Crompton and how the Clegg family built the first church and school.

“We spoke about what we are doing now and our hopes for the future. That’s what the visit was all about, passing the baton of faith to the younger generation.”

The baton was handed back to the bishop by the Rose Queen, who represented four generations of the same family who all attend St Mary’s.