Hundreds gather for Whit walks

Rose Queen Melissa Taylor, from St Thomas’s in Lees, accompanied by her retinue and Lukas Briggs

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THE rain held off to the delight of hundreds of Oldhamers who took part in Whit Walks across the borough yesterday.

Members of churches from all over Oldham were accompanied by brass bands in the mass celebration.

In Lees, the Rev Edith Disley took charge of her first Whit Walk event at St Thomas’s Church, Leesfield.

Her congregation was joined by worshippers from John the Baptist, St Agnes, Salem Moravian, St Edwards, Springhead Congregational, Zion Methodist and Roundthorn Salvation Army who all set off from their respective churches at 11am for a communal service at St Thomas’s at midday.

The groups were led by bands and joined by their rose queens and youngsters from the church brownie, guides and scout groups.

In Shaw, members of seven churches walked from their own churches to the district centre for an afternoon of song, dance and celebration.

Congregation members from Holy Trinity, United Reformed Church, St Paul’s Methodist, Shaw Salvation Army, St James East Crompton, St Saviours at Buckstones Road and Shore Edge Methodist came together in Kershaw Street car park for the special service.

In East Oldham, five churches combined to bring the streets to life with music before a party in Clarksfield.

Members of St Barnabas Church, Clarksfield, Elim Foursquare, Greenacres, Greenacres Congregational, East Oldham Methodist Church, Watersheddings and Holy Trinity, Waterhead, enjoyed a service at St Barnabas.

In Chadderton there was no official walk this year, but churchgoers were invited to a party in Chadderton Hall Park. Attendees enjoyed musical performances, hymns and a barbecue.

The united churches of Failsworth — Roman Road Methodist, St Mary’s, St John’s, Hope, Salvation Army, Macedonia and Holy Family — enjoyed a joint service at St Mary’s; while in Royton, churchgoers from Royton Moravian, Trinity Methodist and St Paul’s C of E paraded on local streets.


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