Bamford Chapel Magazine Oct 2013
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Transcript of Bamford Chapel Magazine Oct 2013
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Bamford
Chapel
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BAMFORD CHAPEL
Mission/Vision Statement
MISSION
TO MAKE KNOWN THE GOOD NEWS OF THE LOVE OF GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST
WORSHIP
We believe as a congregation that our worship should be wholehearted and
meaningful as we join together in praise and thanksgiving to God. In response to
God’s love, we wish to express our joy, to open our hearts to God’s voice and to
respond to His word.
LEARNING
Recognising our need to learn of God and from God, we seek to provide an
environment within which learning and teaching can take place. We would want to
enable each person to accept God into their life and to have the ability to discuss and
share their faith with all.
PASTORAL
We are joined together in our faith by the Holy Spirit. As a loving fellowship we wish to
deepen and extend our care for each other encouraging everyone to use their gifts, as
they are enabled by God, to show tenderness and compassion in a spirit of humility.
MISSION/SOCIETY
We accept that we are called to make Christ known in our community at Bamford and
in all other places. We would wish to influence others by example and comment,
accepting that God will speak through us as we maintain a relationship with Him. We
recognise the need for the Church to participate in all aspects of the life of the world,
and proclaim God’s will, as it is revealed to us.
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Further Details may be found at www.bamfordchapel.co.uk
Thursday 3rd October
7.30 pm Elders Meeting
Sunday 6th October
10.30 am Family Worship with Holy Communion led by our Minister Revd Richard Bradley
6.00 pm Evening Worship led by Laura Davies
Tuesday 8th October
12 noon for 12.45
Light lunches served from 12 noon followed by concert featuring Colin Blarney (clarinet) and Russell Lomas (piano)
Tuesday 8th October
7.30 pm at St Vincent’s
Churches Together in North West Rochdale
Saturday 12th October
The North Western Synod meets at the Oasis Academy, Salford
Sunday 13th October
10.30 am Church Anniversary, Family Worship led by our North West Synod Moderator Revd. Richard Church
6.00 pm Evening Worship led by our Minister Revd Richard Bradley
Sunday 20th October
10.30 am Family Worship led by our Minister Revd Richard Bradley
6.00 pm Evening Worship with Holy Communion led by our Minister Revd Richard Bradley
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Message from the Manse
Jesus said, “19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. 20And surely I am with you to the very end of
the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20) If there was ever a Mission Statement for the whole Christian Church it is this one. I don’t think it was an accident that these were some of Jesus’ final words before he ascended into heaven. Not only is there the challenge laid down to those first disciples but also the promise of Jesus’ presence with them through the power of the Holy Spirit. I think the whole United Reformed Church needs to be reminded of these words and we ought to be challenged by them as we think about how to be a church in the world we live in and the communities in which we are set. In my last article I mentioned the work that Vision Strategy Team have been doing since the questionnaires were filled out. I also mentioned some of my own thinking whilst I have been reading the book “The Purpose Driven Church” by Rick Warren. As the Vision Strategy Team (as I have called us) have been looking at the results of the questionnaires I have been thinking about how
Sunday 27th October
10.30 am Family Worship led by our Minister Revd Richard Bradley
6.00 pm Evening Worship led by Walter Brisk
Wednesday 30th October
1.30 pm Midweek Communion in the lounge
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we might develop them and carry them forward. By the time you read this article I will have shared with you in a service (22nd September) some of my thoughts as I have prayed, read and listened. I also hope that the Church Meeting on the same date gave its approval to the developing of a new mission/vision statement for the church. I am conscious that any new vision needs to be harnessed and owned by the whole church. It is a challenging process. What we are invited to explore, think about, and pray about (most importantly) is where God is leading us as a church and what our priorities are as a church. One of the challenges Rick Warren presents to his readers is this: “If the church is static it is not growing” (paraphrased by me) an obvious statement perhaps but no less challenging. I hope in the service on the 22nd September to have explained to you about the five “purposes” (as Warren calls them in his book) that he feels are taught to us in the New Testament about how to be a Biblically grounded church. The book is as challenging as it is exciting. I hope that following the service and Church meeting on the 22nd September we will all want to come on this new journey of how to be church so that we can reach outside our walls. There is still a lot of work to do and we ALL need to be involved and committed to it. I hope and most certainly pray that we won’t get bogged down in buildings related issues. The roof is important and looking after our building is important….but the Church is you….the church is me. The church, as we know, is the people. I want our priority to be people and reaching out with the Good News. I am not suggesting the buildings issues should be ignored but it is very easy to let such issues dominate and detract from
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what we are here to be and here to do. I am excited for the future but I also know it is going to be challenging as we may start new things and stop old things and even change current things. What we need to be is united. We may not agree with everything but what I am passionate about is to please God and doing His will and using the gifts of ALL God’s people here at Bamford Chapel.
I invite you to continue on this journey with Jesus. However old or young, frail or active, whether you feel worthy or unworthy……this journey is for you!!!! Let us place our hands in the hands of Jesus and walk with him. God Bless Your servant in Christ Richard
If you wish to know God you must know his Word.
C H Spurgeon
A lot of people want to serve God, but only in an
advisory capacity.
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News of the family
Concerns are expressed for Ray Atkins and family, Marjorie and
Ken Farrington, Don and Win Schofield, Joan Warner and her
sister, Sylvia, Addie and Barbara Redmond, Joan Ashton, Peggy
Newton (currently in Carder`s Court), Andy and Julie Platt, Ian and
Anne Newman, Margaret Entwistle, John Baillie, Lisa and Alastair
Linden, Joyce and Derek Yates, June Pearson, Tracey Scoresby and
anyone else of whom you are aware but who I have omitted to
mention. Please remember all these people in your prayers.
Margaret and David Watson wish to thank everyone for their good
wishes and donations to Frances House on the occasion of their
Golden Wedding last month.
We particularly think this month of all the young people who are
leaving home, perhaps for the first time, to go to University. They
go with all our love and best wishes for a happy and productive
time. Not forgetting their parents, who may be experiencing
mixed feelings as their "babies" leave the nest. Please remember
them also in your prayers.
It`s Autumn again and the countdown to Christmas is already
beginning in the shops. At Bamford Chapel we have already
celebrated Harvest launched our Third World Project, for 2013,
which will finish on Christmas Day. This year we are supporting
the Lancashire Gulu Partnership in Northern Uganda, helping
women to become self sufficient through the growing of banana
plants. Remember the project in your prayers and
also through your personal giving on Sunday
mornings.
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Ladies’ Fellowship
Our first meeting on 12th September was a talk and
demonstration on a form of exercise called ‘PILATES’ given
by Cilla Thwaites, an instructor at the Village Gym.
Our numbers were lower than usual – was it because
members on the Probus holiday were late back owing to a
puncture? Or maybe because it was the first meeting &
memories are failing? Or maybe it was the fear that if you
came, you might have to join in??
Well, absent members missed a treat!! Cilla provided an
excellent handout, brought along an assistant to
demonstrate the moves and encouraged anyone to join in
whether sitting or standing. Soon we were all doing
shoulder exercises with stretch bands; massaging feet, back
and shoulders with tennis balls. Not to mention performing
‘superman’ and ‘bridge’ exercise on floor mats!
The ‘PILATES’ method is so called because the creator was
Joseph Pilates, a German who moved to London and taught
self-defence at Scotland Yard. The purpose of the system
was to strengthen the whole body. It was originally called
‘CONTROLOLOGY’.
Quotes from Cilla’s material: Pilates will strengthen your
whole body and improve your posture; Pilates is for
everyone, from Sports professionals to very beginners, all
exercise can be modified to suit each individual.
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Quotes from Joseph Pilates: ‘you are only as young as your
spine is flexible; you will feel better in 10 sessions, look
better in 20 sessions and have a complete new body in 30
sessions’
Thanks to Cilla & all brave souls who came along Joan Warner
Programme to Christmas – please join us! Friday 27th September 10-12am Macmillan Coffee Morning Tickets available £3 Thursday 10th October Packing Boxes for Belarus See list of required items Thursday 14th November ‘World Challenge Report’ A presentation from our own young people Wednesday 11th December Christmas meal at Peacock Room
The real art of conversation is not only to say the
right thing at the right time, but also to leave unsaid
the wrong thing at the tempting moment.
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OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD.
Operation Christmas Child is the largest children's
Christmas project in the world, run by the Christian charity
Samaritan's Purse. Gift-filled shoeboxes have been sent to
disadvantaged children around the world since 1990,
bringing joy into the lives of over 80 million children.
Could I once again ask for your support of this children's
charity? Many of you will already be familiar with it. For
those who are not, the aim is to fill a
shoe box with various items such
as, soap and flannel, toothpaste,
brush, comb, pens and pencils and
notebooks. We also try to include
hat and gloves and a small toy.
We also need shoe boxes.
We need gifts for both boys and girls in the age groups, 2-
4, 5-9 and 10-14.
I will be happy to receive any items also boxes
Joan Ashton, on behalf of Carol Hartley.
tel 01706 360395. (I can collect.)
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HEYWOOD LOCAL COMMITTEE
and
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR
Thank you so much from the committee members for the
generous donation to Cancer Research from proceeds of this
year’s wonderful production of Jesus Christ Superstar.
An amount of £827 has now been forwarded to CRUK.
The loss of our dear inspirational and motivational Chairman,
Auriel has left us all slightly lacking in enthusiasm and drive. We WILL bounce back and are assured Auriel continues to be
there spiritually to help us in the future.
God Bless you Auriel. We miss you so much.
Joan Ashton : Glenda Brisk : Diane Davies [welcome] :
Marie Fernandes : Margaret Frain : Joan Hortop :
Kay Riley : Margaret Ogden : Margaret Taylor : Audrey Wardell
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Churches launch major campaign to
‘save’ Christmas What is the Christmas story? You’d be surprised (shocked?) to discover that fewer and fewer people actually know about God’s promise of a Messiah, and how it came true through the angel, Mary, Joseph, the baby, the angels appearing
to the shepherds, and the star that led the magi to Jesus. When the problem of widespread ignorance of even these very basics of the Christmas story was recently revealed through survey findings, the mainline denominations decided to take action to reverse the trend. ‘The Christmas Starts with Christ’ Campaign will run from 1st December to Christmas day. Resources available include a new free-to-use logo, specially produced Christmas cards, a chocolate advent calendar with a copy of the Christmas story in the box and a national advertising campaign using posters and radio ads. A turning point? It might be difficult to believe, but knowledge of the Christmas Story is fading. Just 12 per cent of adults know the nativity story; and 36 per cent of children do not know whose birthday is being celebrated during the festival. Christmas is being lost to secularism and the trend is for this to get worse. Some 51 per cent of people now say that the birth of Jesus is irrelevant to their Christmas. This is a tipping point. Christmas is becoming simply ... 'mas'; a consumer-fuelled and family-filled happy holiday which is meaningless – albeit enjoyable. Together we can reverse the trend A movement made up of some of the nation's leading Christian groups, including the Church of England, the Evangelical Alliance, and the Children's Society, is coming together because they
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recognise something must be done. Leading the campaign is ChurchAds.net – the group behind the annual Christmas advertising poster campaigns. This year, recognising the urgency and importance of bringing the Church together to save Christmas, the group has taken a new direction. Part of this will be the first ever nationwide Christmas Starts Sunday on 1 December, which kicks off the campaign and starts Advent. Francis Goodwin, of ChurchAds.net, said: "Christmas is such an important part of the Church calendar and it is a time when Christians shine light in their communities. But the good news is being lost. We can't sit back and let that happen. We cannot let the nation lose the real meaning of Christmas; and we are passionate about bringing the Church together for this cause to remind everyone that Christmas Starts with Christ." Church leaders are among those who have put their support into the campaign.
Arun Arora, director of communications at the Church of
England, said: "At Christmas time thousands of churches
around the country do a huge amount to carry the
Christmas story into their local communities, through word
and deed. The vision for the Christmas Starts with Christ
campaign is to use a common logo to join the dots of these
activities and project a powerful message to our entire
nation that the reason for the season is the birth of Jesus.
"The logo is available for use free of charge, and the more
churches that use it the greater the chance that we can
cause the 51 per cent of people who say ‘the birth of Jesus
is irrelevant to my Christmas’ to think again!"
If you would like to download resources for your church, find out more about the campaign or help save Christmas,
visit www.christmasstartswithchrist.com
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BAMFORD CHAPEL Midday Concerts: 2013-14
Concerts always on the second Tuesday of the month, 12.45 – 1.45 p.m. Lunch served from 12 noon
Admission to the concerts: £3 Lunch items individually priced
October 8 Colin Blarney (clarinet) and Russell Lomas (piano)
Russell is a regular visitor here, and has brought to us
many talented young musicians
November 12 Rising Bridge ensemble (strings and piano)
This group is new to us. We look forward to an
interesting programme
December 10 Students from the Royal Northern College of music
We hope to select the artistes when the students begin
term in September. Details will be published in
September – we hope for some brass!
January 14 Chris Holmes Jazz Trio
We do not often invite guests back so soon, but this Trio
was hugely enjoyed last season, so we decided to make
an exception!
February 11 Aidan Edwards (baritone) and Juliet Montgomery
(soprano). This duo will be making their first appearance
here, but come warmly commended
March 11 Jonathan Ellis (piano)
Jonathan has been here several times, though not
recently, as accompanist, leader of a piano trio, and
soloist: he has specially asked if he may come as soloist
this season, and we are happy to oblige.
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Midday Concerts 2013 – 2014
In this edition of the Chapel magazine, you will find details
of our new programme. Sadly this year, Chetham’s School have
been unable to include us in their schedule. This comes after very
many years of a most happy relationship. Nevertheless, we have
once again put together a series of concerts which we hope will
give pleasure to our audiences.
Besides providing musicians of real quality, we seek also
to raise funds for the Chapel, and in this we are immensely helped
by the devoted service of those who prepare and serve food each
month. Admission to the concerts has been fixed at £3 for a
number of years, and we do not want to increase this if we can
possibly avoid it. For the new season, therefore, the price will
remain the same. We need an audience at each concert of 70 to
break even, and once again we are appealing for the support of
church members who are free in the middle of the day to join us.
We know that many of you enjoy music and go to concerts
elsewhere. Please join us this year – we need you! We would love
to see a greater number of Chapel folk in our audiences, both to
encourage the artistes for whom a large audience is so gratifying,
but also to enable us to continue to give the church a substantial
cheque on Gift Day.
Thank you to those
of you who do regularly
support us, and to the rest of
you who are able to come,
do give us a try!
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CHRISTMAS SHOEBOXES
This will be the third year that Ladies’ Fellowship has provided
Christmas boxes for the elderly of Belarus, which Carol Hartley
distributes. Please can you help with any items listed below. There is a box in the coffee area for contributions. Thank you.
Women
(Babushka) Both Men
(Dedushka)
Talc
Handcream
Headscarf
Bedsocks
Underwear
Large Knickers
Blouse
Slip
Vest
tights
Jewellery –
brooch / neck-
lace / bracelet
Hot water bottle
Soap
Toothbrush + Paste
Comb
Flannel
Sponge
Tea towel
Reading Glasses
Socks
Something to wear
(very good
secondhand is OK)
Warm hat
Soft Sweets
Mug
Notebook
Pen
PHOTO &
CHRISTMAS CARD
Razors (and
blades)
Vest
Pants
T-shirts
Long johns
Warm hat /
gloves/ scarf /
cap
Tie
Shirt
Dominoes
Pack of Cards
Chess set
Harmonica
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BAMFORD CHAPEL
Midday concerts: 2013-14
On the second Tuesday of the month,
12.45 p.m. – 1.45 p.m.
Lunch served from 12 noon
Admission to the concerts: £3
Lunch items individually priced
October 8th 2013
Colin Blarney (clarinet)
and
Russell Lomas (piano)
Russell is a regular visitor here, and has brought to
us many talented young musicians
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The Stained Teapot
The TV cookery programme was on mute as Laura
reflected on the afternoon Bible Study. The leader had
been talking about sin and he had given Laura three
Bible verses to look up. As she searched for the first one,
Laura reflected on her life. She was struggling with her
faith and knew there was still a lot wrong in her life. She
had so many faults and Laura wondered if all her sins
were forgiven. As far as she was concerned her life was
tainted and could never be clean.
Laura found the first Bible verse: If we confess our sins
to God ... He will forgive us our sins and purify us from
all our wrong doing” (1 John 1:9) Laura gazed at the
words and wondered how Jesus could remove every stain
in her life? ‘Surely’ she said to herself, ‘I’ve got to do
something myself to be right with God?”
Laura looked blankly at the TV where a chef was making
some drinks. Laura thought about her recent Bible
discussion. Someone had said that the power to remove
sin came from God. She looked up at the next verse and
it said: Even if you washed with the strongest soap, I
would still see the stain of your guilt’. (Jeremiah 2:22)
Laura wondered if these verses were meant for her!
Again she looked at the TV screen and saw a chef pick up
an old teapot that was badly stained inside. He washed it
and scrubbed it, but the stain couldn’t be removed. Then
he added some biological washing powder and filled the
teapot with boiling water. A few minutes later the
stubborn tea stain had disappeared. The tea pot looked
as good as new!
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Laura suddenly realised that the sin
in her life was like the stain in the
teapot. The chef couldn’t make the
tea pot clean, he had to use
something more powerful than
himself. Laura was convinced that
only God could remove her sin and wondered what the
final Bible verse she was looking up would say. As she
read it, she would never again doubt God’s power to
make her clean.
”When the kindness and love of God our Saviour was
revealed He saved us.... through the Holy Spirit, who
gives us new birth and new life by washing us.
(Titus 3:4-5)
Borosivo Abandoned Babies Home
COFFEE DAY & BRING AND BUY
Wed 16th October 10 am—3.30 pm
Trinity Methodist Church, Heywood
£1 Admission
(inc refreshments)
This year we would like to buy the children shoes and winter
clothes.
Thanking you for all your help.
Carol Hartley
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David and Margaret Watson would like to thank all those who attended their Golden Wedding celebration and made it such a successful evening. We have been overwhelmed with the number of cards and donations we received Thank you once again. As some of you know we had two parties and at both we asked for donations to Francis House Children’s Hospice and we are delighted to say that the amount we gave to this charity in cash and cheques was £1135.00. When they add the amount received on tax reclaimed from the money gift aided the final total will be £1370.00.
The Bible is meant to be bread for our daily use,
not just cake for special occasions.
Anon
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Clothes Swap Party
Friday 4th October at 7.30 pm
How often have you bought a dress or top and then wished
you hadn’t? How many scarves or bags do you have in your
wardrobe which you never wear?
Come along to the Clothes Swap party and clear out your
wardrobes.
The idea is that we bring along any new or like-new items
which we don’t want and swap them. Something that you bring
along may look better on someone else! You may find the per-
fect accessory for an outfit!
There will be a small charge for entry,
refreshments will be available
and it could be fun!
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Toddlers Group Toddlers Group has been meeting at Bamford Chapel every Tuesday Morning 9 - 11am for about 25 years. This summer we were very surprised, yet delighted, to receive an award on behalf of Bamford Chapel. Part of our letter of notification reads :
‘Congratulations Your Toddler Group is a Netmums Favourite!!
Netmums has been asking our members to let us know about their favourite local toddler group and we are really pleased to let you know that Bamford Chapel
Toddler Group has been selected as one of our members’ favourites in the Rochdale & Bury area. Karen Dutton Netmums Rochdale & Bury editor ‘The Rochdale Observer
report read: Bamford Chapel has been voted Top of the Tots. More than a million parents voted for the best run Toddler Groups in the country and the group at Bamford Chapel was named in the top three in the Bury and Rochdale area. ‘ We thank the Lord for our supportive volunteers and delight week after week in seeing our toddlers grow in all areas of their development. At this time of year our 3 year olds leave us to continue education at Playgroup and Nursery School, we pray for them and their families and wish them all a safe life journey. From our activities and from fund raising events we are able to support our church at Gift Day and also Francis House Children’s Hospice.
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Because Toddlers expanded last year we asked for volunteers to help out with our crafting tables, Gloria and I wish to say a big thank you to Jean Fitton, Margaret Ogden and Margaret Watson for their support over the year and pray that very soon Muriel Sturrock will be back amongst us healed and healthy. God Bless Gillian Galloway and Gloria Norbury
Kilimanjaro Climbed
Funds Raised
Addie and Barbara want to
thank all those who have
sponsored them to climb
Kilimanjaro.
Addie reached the top
(19,341 ft), but Barbara fell
ill half way up and had to
return to Moshi. So far
they have raised £1600 for
VSO and nearly £300 for
Street Pastors.
All things desirable to men are contained in the Bible.
Abraham Lincoln
The Bible never claims to be one holy book among
many, but the holy book above all.
Brian H Edwards
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This year’s project is to support
the Lancashire-Gulu link
with their Big Banana Ap-peel
By supporting the Lancashire-gulu Link Big Banana
Ap-peel you will be directly helping 100’s of families in
Gulu, Northern Uganda to become more self-sufficient
and have better lives.
Every penny collected will go to:
1. Address food insecurity in Gulu district (Acholi-
land), following over two decades of armed conflict
in northern Uganda by planting 10 acres of banana
crop.
2. Empower families to lift themselves out of poverty
and hunger to self-reliance by providing them with
a multiplying gift of banana plantlets and banana
suckers.
3. Train families in the best practices for growing
bananas and management of banana plantations.
4. Help families pass on theses skills to other families.
Take a look at the website:
http://www.lglink.org
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Sign seen on a church:
God gives you better directions than Sat Navs!
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BAMFORD CHAPEL MAGAZINE
EDITORS: Louise Aspinall 01706 719449
Martyn James 01706 868885
SECRETARY: Joan Ashton 01706 360395
DATES FOR THE NEXT MAGAZINE
November 2013
Articles to be handed in by: Sunday 13th October
Magazine to be completed by: Thursday 24th October
Magazine distributed: Sunday 27th October
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BAMFORD CHAPEL
United Reformed Church Charity - Reg’d No 1128387
(FAIRTRADE CHURCH) Norden Road, ROCHDALE, Lancs. OL11 5PQ
The Manse,
Norden Road,
ROCHDALE,
Lancs
OL11 5PQ
Telephone: 01706 369622
www.bamfordchapel.co.uk
Minister : Rev Richard Bradley
Email: [email protected]
Church Secretary: Ian Sturrock
Telephone: 01706 653109
Email: [email protected]
Wedding Secretary: John Lapworth
Telephone: 01706 632460
Email: [email protected]
Lettings Manager: Linda Kerford
Telephone: 01706 624256
Email: [email protected]
Times of Services: Family Worship : 10.30 am : Holy Communion 1st Sunday in month
Evening Worship : 6.00 pm : Holy Communion 3rd Sunday in month