We’re walking in a Whitsun wonderland

No sign of rain . . . but one walker used her brolly to keep the sun at bay

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

WHIT walkers basked in the sunshine yesterday, marching to brass bands and holding outdoor services as they enjoyed one of the hottest days of the year.

With temperatures hitting 80F, some walkers admitted it was a little too hot for their liking, but no-one could have asked for more to make one of Oldham’s longest-running traditions a huge success.

North Chadderton churches congregated for a service at Chadderton Hall Park, marking the end of Whit weekend celebrations which began on Saturday with a family fun day.

Healds Green Methodist, Mills Hill Baptist, St Matthew’s and St Luke’s, St Herbert’s, Chadderton Community and North Chadderton Methodist churches joined together during the course of the walk which culminated in the park.

Around 350 people attended a joint service led by The Rev David Saville, from Chadderton Community Church, The Rev David Penny, from St Matthew’s and St Luke’s, and The Rev Darren Holland, from South Chadderton Church.

Ellenbrook and Boothtown Band led part of the march to the park, and a worship band made up from musicians from the churches involved led the singing in the service.

Whit walks were a real community affair in Lees, with eight churches under the banner of Churches Together in Lees and District, joining to celebrate.

They were St John the Baptist, St Thomas Leesfield, St Agnes, St Hugh, Salem Moravian, Springhead Congregational, Zion Methodist and the Salvation Army.

The format was changed this year to bring a spot of variety to the tradition, and the walk took place in the morning.

St John the Baptist marched to the sound of Uppermill Brass Band, and church members from across the area converged on the playground at St Thomas Leesfield School at noon for a joint service.

Revellers then made their way either to St John the Baptist Church for lunch, where participants took food along to share, or to Springhead Congregational Church where there was a barbecue.

In Chadderton South, members of Christ Church, St Saviour’s and Crossley Christian Centre walked together from Christ Church, down Block Lane, towards Crossley.

Accompanied by Royton Squadron ATC band, they made three brief stops for prayers and bible reading, outside the Radclyffe Outreach Centre and on the car park at the Ancora restaurant, Broadway.

The walk ended at the green on Eaves Lane, for final prayers and a bible reading.

The vicar of Oldham, the Rev Derek Palmer, presided over a town centre walk which saw around 160 people from four churches join together.

Members from Oldham Parish Church, Oldham Baptist Church, Union Street Church and All Nations Church were accompanied by Oldham Lees Band on the walk.

They began at noon, making a first stop outside Sainsbury’s, Union Street, for a prayer and to sing hymn.

The main service was held at Market Place, near Spindles, where there was a reading, a short address, prayers and a hymn, then on to the bus station for another reading and a hymn, before the procession ended at the Parish Church, for tea and biscuits.

Father David Hawthorn, chairman of the Association of Hollinwood Churches, gave a special Whitsuntide sermon to around 80 people on the Netto car park.

Members of the congregations of St Margaret’s Church, Beulah Baptist Church, URC Church, Hollins Methodist, Limeside Methodist, Corpus Christi and Holy Family Church gathered at the venue after their own morning services, and leaders from all churches took part in the service.

Around 130 people from the congregations of St Paul’s Church, Hathershaw; and St Thomas’s, Werneth; walked together to Coppice Nursing Home, where residents joined in a service in the grounds led by The Rev Andrew Dawson, from St Thomas’s.

Accompanied by Greenfield Brass Band, which also played for the hymns, the procession then made its way to Boston House, where again residents joined in the singing in the grounds.

Around 200 people walked with St Anne’s Church, Royton, to the Royal Oldham Hospital for an outdoor service before returning to the church.

The Rev James Read’s wife, Marian, said: “We had a band and there were lots of young families and children, it was amazing. The weather was wonderful and we had a sing and a service on the hospital car park as patients waved and joined in from the windows.”

In other parts of Royton, around 200 people from Trinity Methodist Church, the Moravian Church and St Paul’s Church joined together to walk along Middleton Road and Sandy Lane before returning to their respective churches.

St Paul’s held a service before the walk, with Wardle Brass Band.

Trinity Methodist and the Moravian Church held a service led by the Rev Neville Markham on the green outside Trinity Methodist following the walk.

Friezland Brass Band played both during the walk and to accompany hymns during the service.

In Shaw, an amazing 500 people turned out for the walk and a short act of worship at the Market Street car park, led by the Rev David Jones, from St Paul’s Methodist Church, Rochdale Road.

Prayers were read by the Rev Lynne Connolly, vicar of East Crompton, and Captain Tony Goodwin, from Shaw Salvation Army. Bible readings came from Captain Heather Goodwin, of Shaw Salvation Army, and a member of Shaw United Reformed Church.

Micheala Potts led community singing and hymns were accompanied by Ashton Brass Band.

The Rev Jones said: “We had a very good turnout and it was a lovely afternoon — I think the sun brought everyone out.”

In Oldham West, Holy Trinity, Bardsley and Keb Lane Methodist Church joined together to walk, and stopped for small services as they made their way around Simkin Way, Bardsley.

The congregation from St Cuthbert’s Church, Fitton Hill, did not walk, but held an open-air service in the morning.

Woodhouses Church, Failsworth, had an early start with a 9am walk, stopping en-route for readings and prayers, followed by a bring-and-buy sale back at church on their return.