General Assembly Moderator - Catriona Wheeler - Visit to Lancashire
On the weekend of 12-15th June, Catriona Wheeler was invited to visit Lancashire South East Missional Partnership (LSEMP) for what turned out to be an inspirational weekend for all concerned.
She arrived Friday tea-time to attend Messy Church at Kingsway & Woodlands URC, where the theme was Fruit of the Spirit. A lively event of various crafts and sharing a meal of hotdogs, pizza and fries, pancakes with fruits (decorated by the children) a sing-a-long with actions, (with children watching their parents with embarrassment), finishing with a prayer and the Messy Grace.
Saturday morning was a visit to Clitheroe URC for an Art Exhibition by 3 local schools (including our very own Barrow School) and learning about Clitheroe’s Gold Eco Church achievement, culminating with a visit to their Shop of Hope.
After a brief lunch, it was on to Trinity Great Harwood LEP for an afternoon exploring Cameroonian food, culture, traditional attire, history and SINGING!
Rev’d Gilbert Esambe introduced Global Mission Day 2026, ‘A New Vision for Mission in LSEMP ’.
An event we hope we will repeat.
Catriona led two services on the Sunday; Trinity Lancaster URC and Westbury Gardens URC, followed by a calm and awe inspiring ministry through music by the Apples of Gold worship group at North Blackburn URC.
Monday morning was a visit to the best school in the country, Barrow URC School (we know we are biased, but it is true!), where headteacher Mrs Nicola McArdle showed Catriona around the school and talked about the 150th Anniversary in September.
The final stop was at Blackburn Cathedral, looking at the Portraits of Courage hosted by Kairos Housing, featuring refugee portraits and stories across Kairos Housing, DARE, ARC and Community Harmony.
In Catriona’s words, the weekend was amazing and so very varied with all that is happening in the partnership churches.
We thank Catriona for giving her time to visit us, and it was a privilege for all concerned to talk and share with her on what was her last such visit before she hands over to our new Moderator at General Assembly in July.
Rev’d Mike Aspinall