St Stephen’s is a church family normally meeting every Sunday in the heart of Elton, Bury
A letter from Rev Paul Sanderson – June 2020
Although the church will be open for private prayer on Sundays from 21st June , we still encourage you to spend time with God wherever you are, so make some time today to ‘be still and know God’ (Psalm 46.10).
To help you we have prepared some services for you to follow at home. These can be found on the ‘Services’ page.
Contents of ‘Services’ page
- June 2020 Holy Communion
- Pentecost Holy Communion with accompanying YouTube and Liturgy.
- Happy Birthday from St Stephen’s.
- Holy Communion with accompanying YouTube and Liturgy.
- Act of Spiritual Communion with readings.
- Morning Prayer
- Normal service pattern
The Church of England has a weekly online service at 9am every Sunday at https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/church-online
The BBC 1 broadcast a service on Sunday mornings at 10.45am.
BBC Radio 4 broadcast a radio service every Sunday at 8.10am.
BBC Radio Manchester broadcast a radio service every Sunday at 8am.
(Check the times each week in case they change)
Several churches in our area are livestreaming services or sharing recorded services via their Facebook and Twitter pages, or via YouTube. These include Bury Parish Church, St Andrew’s Radcliffe, Bury Christian Fellowship, St Mary’s Hawkshaw and others as well. Check their websites for more details.
Free Daily HOPE phoneline
The Church of England has recently set up a means of engaging with a weekly service for people without access to the online service. This can be accessed without charge by phoning the number shown below, where you will hear a greeting from the Archbishop of Canterbury, as well as being able to hear and join in with hymns and prayers.
Under normal circumstances we have services every Sunday and we look forward to inviting you to join us for any of these as soon as the lockdown ends. Full details are given on this website and are also posted on https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/16035/
If you would then like to come to a midweek gathering, why not come to the Community Cafe which normally takes place every third Wednesday between 10am and 1.30pm? Click ‘What’s On’ for full details. Next date is to be confirmed.
Click red ‘What’s On’ link for details of : –
- Community Cafe
- Date of next MONTHLY PRAYER MEETING
Introducing our Priest-in-Charge
Rev. Paul Sanderson – formerly from the United Benefice of Walmersley Road – was licensed as Priest-in-Charge of St Stephen, Elton in March 2019.
The Bishop of Bolton, Rt Rev Mark Ashcroft officiated at the service and in his talk he encouraged us to ‘drink the living water’ offered by Jesus (John 4) , and to continue doing so.
Paul writes:
After serving as a Reader for 20 years I was ordained as a local minister in 2005.
I am a local lad having been born in Radcliffe and living in Rochdale 
Bury. I am married to Diane, have one daughter Eleanor and a deaf Jack Russell called Dodger. I retired from a career as a science teacher in secondary, further education and sixth form in 201
Apart from serving God my passion is walking and if I’m not in the Lake District or walking a long distance footpath you will see me out and about in the local area with the dog.
About St Stephen’s
Our church is liberal catholic in tradition and this is reflected in our worship which involves lots of our church family, many of whom live outside of the parish, in many aspects of our worship. Our church family is made up of young families through to people who have lived in Elton and have worshipped at our church over several decades!
We are connected with our community through our link with our church primary school, and events like our annual pantomime which includes lots of people from our local community, and we also have good and developing relationships with other churches from across the denominational spectrum, sharing in events such as Praise in the Park and working together in mission. St Stephen’s also has a 20 plus strong Mothers Union which meets monthly and is involved in local mission as well as uniformed organisation linked to the scouting movement.
We look forward to you coming along to St Stephens and getting to know us … tea and coffee in our community room after our 10.00am services is a great time to do this.
Click black link to be taken to our newsletter page.
Safeguarding Contacts
If you are worried that someone you know is at risk, or is being abused, or presents a risk to others please contact:
Barbara Ingham (Parish Safeguarding Officer) 07747 803575
Rev Paul Sanderson (Priest in Charge) 07795 810016
Abbey Clephane-Wilson (Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser) 0161 828 1451
Bury Council 0161 253 5678 / 6606
If there is an immediate risk of harm or danger please contact the police on 101.
Click the link below to see St Stephen’s Safeguarding Policies
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