The United Reformed Church - North Western Synod
Church details: Bury with Freetown
Bury with Freetown
Parsons Lane,
BURY,
BL9 0LY
Church contact: Minister Revd Ruth Wollaston Tel: 0161 796 2217 Email: ruthwollaston@tiscali.co.uk Church Secretary Dr S Neininger, Tel: 0161 761 6486 Email: sneininger@tiscali.co.uk
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We occupy a bright, new building in Parson’s Lane, having been relocated by the Rock Triangle development 2 years ago. Midweek services lasting 30 minutes are held every week at 11.00am. They are informal services and refreshments are served afterwards. Sunday morning services begin at 11.00am and last about 1 hour. Junior Church members join with the adults for the first part of the service and then leave for their own classes. Visitors are invited to join us for coffee afterwards. Our congregation is small but hardworking, and drawn from all parts of the United Kingdom, as well as Africa and SE Asia.
The Anniversary service on 7 June 2009 was presided over by Revd Richard Church, Moderator of the North West Synod, and attended by the Mayor of Bury. We were also joined by members from the other two churches in the pastorate - Besses URC and Blackford Bridge URC- with whom we enjoy close links. A buffet lunch followed the service.
Members of all three churches in the pastorate spent an enjoyable weekend of reflection, fellowship, and entertainment in Morecambe at the beginning of May. We meet regularly at each others’ special services, and social events.
We have a very successful café on Saturdays from 10.30am to 1.30pm, where local friends, and visitors from other towns, can enjoy light refreshments and good company.
Our meeting rooms are a popular central venue for local groups, and several concerts and exhibitions have been staged in our worship area. We belong to the Bury Centre and South ecumenical group of churches; regular events are the Good Friday Walk of Witness through the town centre, and carol singing in the shopping centre during Advent. In December 2008 a most successful production of Bethlehem Live took place throughout our building. It was arranged by the Bury Christian Fellowship as part of the HOPE 2008 year of united church activities, and involved members of 15 churches from the district. After the opening by the Bishop of Bolton, more than 600 visitors were guided round interactive scenes from the Christmas story.