Churches Together in Haltwhistle 5th Anniversary Service
Veronica Yarwood from St. Wilfrids Haltwhistle writes about the recent Churches Together Anniversary service
On Sunday 15th June the churches in Haltwhistle celebrated the Churches Together 5th Anniversary Service of the signing of the Covenant. This covenant was started five years ago on Trinity Sunday 2003 when representatives of the United Reformed, Anglican, Methodist and Roman Catholic Churches formally pledged to work together by processing to the relevant churches and signing the declaration. That was the fruition of a gradual growing together since 1994 when the then Methodist minister began regular clergy meetings in the town.
While Bishop Ambrose Griffiths represented St. Wilfrid’s R.C. on that historic occasion, on the 5th anniversary service held in the Methodist church, the Rt. Rev. Paul Richardson, Assistant Bishop of Newcastle gave an inspirational address recalling that Bishop Kevin Dunn had originally been scheduled to give the talk and expressing his sadness surrounding the circumstances on which he was approached to step in.He then proceeded to detail the part that holy men and women, played in the continuation of The Faith in each of the churches represented and exhorted those present to take up the baton.
Refreshments then followed.
Since the Covenant was signed joint ventures include:
- Remembrance Sunday Service (at War Memorial)
- Lenten Lunches
- One World Week Events
- Dinner Dance
- Christian Aid collection
- Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
- Good Friday Procession
- Advent Carol Service and emphasis on “Fairtrade”
- Pilgrimages have been made by the churches to Whitby; St. Hilda’s Hartlepool; Bamburgh; and Bede’s World Jarrow
- Taize evenings
- Retreat in Minsteracres. “That they may be One”. John 1711