St Andrew's Church, Dearnley

St Andrew's, Dearnley and Smithy Bridge

A special feature of our 9.30am Sung Eucharist this Sunday (January 19) will be the licensing as a Reader at St Andrew's of Wendy Foote by the Rev Canon Chris Bracegirdle.

Wendy was a Licensed Reader at St James The Less in Bethnal Green, London before she moved north to Littleborough nearly two years ago.

The Rev Bracegirdle, who is chaplain to the Bishop and warden of Readers, will formally transfer Wendy's licence from the stewardship of the Rev Alexandra Logan at Bethnal Green to that of the Rev Canon Sharon Jones at Dearnley.

The first of what we hope will be many new groups to use our new Wider Welcome community facilities in the parish room, 'Little Angels', got off to a good start last Monday morning.

The group caters for Mums and under-fives and meets each Monday morning at 9.30 until 11.30 at a nominal cost of £2 per family.

For more details ring Chrissie on 07763749452 or just turn up on Monday.

After this Sunday's Sung Eucharist we have two Holy Baptisms at noon and at 1pm.

The parish rota is: lay assistants, C Longhurst, J Halstead; readers, G Barlow, S Topham; Intercessions, C Cook; sidespersons, J Barker, J Sharp; refreshments, Carolyn, Pat, Margaret H.

Now that work on the parish room has been completed our Junior Church has reverted to meeting in there on Sunday mornings, although children in school years 5 and 6 and above normally remain in church with parents or carers.