With the recent development of the 'Ramsbottom and Tottington Mission Community', getting to know the churches and members of the various church families was important.With the leadership of Rev Paul Sumsion and his Team, it was decided that a walk visiting all eight churches in the Mission community would be a good idea.Despite the contrary weather at the start, and eventual downpour which set in, many joined in Saturday’s walk which started off at Edenfield Parish Church, <a></a>with maps and instructions provided for everyone.Following a ten-mile route, the walk took in all the churches of the new Mission Community who were open to offer rest and refreshment to the walkers. Many people joined and left at various stages throughout the day depending on tiredness and ability.It ended at Emmanuel Church Centre at 4pm for a very well received BBQ, which certainly raised the spirits of the very damp walkers.Many new friendships were made, and calls have been made for it to become an annual event.
The Ramsbottom Jigsaw Festival is undoubtably a major fundraiser for our two churches but it is always just as important that it works as a big community event too - one that brings lots of people together to share and enjoy the occasion.While it will be a while yet until we know how much we raised, we can be fairly confident already that it met that second goal if the feedback from visitors is anything to go on.These comments are taken from our visitors book, customer survey slips and Facebook. Thank you everyone for your kind words. They mean a lot to us
The Jigsaw Festival is over for another year and what a momentous task it is to undertake.What would we do without David masterminding it and overseeing it? A heartfelt thank you David and the committee from all of us.Thanks to Diana who organised the refreshments, made rotas and bought bread and delicious fillings to make sandwiches. For those who baked - what brilliant bakers we have, eat your heart out Great British bake off we’re ready for you.Thank you too June, Eve and Joyce who made the delicious sandwiches, made hundred of pots of tea and coffee, and not forgetting our wonderful kitchen helpers washed up the hundreds of cups and saucers and plates. 'Those hands that do dishes....'Thank you Gill who each morning put fresh flowers on the tables and along with Charles and Wayne acted as taxi drivers to transport people.Thanks for the patience of the dissectologists (look it up if you don't know what they are).All of the stewards guiding visitors and customers.Finally thanks to all who supported the event in any way, without you the festival would not have been the huge success it was!