Anniversary Service
The sun was shining on 13th September as All Saints met for their Sunday service marking the high point of this year’s celebrations of 200 years of faith, worship and service at the church. It was almost 200 years to the day since the consecration of the church for worship on 8th September 1826 and we were honoured to have Bishop David with us to lead the service supported by Revd Elizabeth. In his sermon Bishop David reminded us that on this anniversary we should not only be giving thanks for the past but should look to the future. There had been many changes in worship, the church building and the local community in the last 200years and inevitably there would need to be changes made in the future. We were also pleased to welcome Karan Lee JP DL to the service and Members of Bury Council.
The congregation numbered over 150 and included staff and children from All Saints School who read the intercessions and one of the Bible readings, while some of the older children present took the elements for the Eucharist to the altar. The Gospel was read by Phil Cutcliffe, an ordained Minister in Ipswich, QLD, Australia, who was fortuitously on holiday in England with his wife and had expressed a wish to visit the Church where his great, great grandfather Revd Charles Cutcliffe served as curate alongside Revd Thomas Corser in 1846. Revd Charles had been presented with a silver presentation chalice on his leaving Stand on April 18th 1848 and eventually emigrated to Australia.
The chalice had passed down through Phil’s family. He brought it to All Saints and it was used in the service alongside the Church’s chalices representing our long line of faith as well as that of Phil’s family.
At the end of the service the focus shifted to our ‘birthday cake‘ made by Slatterys, beautifully decorated with a Bible and a Cross.
In recognition of her dedication and service to the Church over decades Chris Haworth was asked by Revd Elizabeth to cut the cake.
Thanks are due to Revd Elizabeth for her work on planning the service and our Director of Music and the augmented choir for the music. With their support the congregation also managed to do justice to the hymns. In fact thank you to everyone who helped in any way to make this service so memorable both on the day and beforehand in planning or behind the scenes preparations. Special thanks to all those members of the congregation, Cleaning Crew and Graveyard Group who did such a splendid job of preparing the Church and ensuring it was so beautiful on the day. It is really appreciated.
Many years ago I was the recipient of a family heirloom, a little communion set with some Engraving on the back showing that it was presented to my great great grandfather Rev. Charles Cutcliffe on 18 April 1846 By his grateful catch catechumens upon his leaving Stand.
This year I was organising my first trip to England and it crossed my mind that I’d like to visit the church that presented the heirloom 180 years ago. When I discovered the church was the All Saints church and emailed Rev. Elizabeth she let me know that it was actually the 200th birthday of the church on the very day I had planned to visit, what a blessing. I ended up bringing the chalice and Paten with me and it was used in the service on the day, even more special. God is good, all glory to him. Thank you so much Church family for a beautiful service and the great welcome that you gave my wife, Julianne and me.
Phil Cutcliffe.