St James is a regular participant in the Heritage Open Days.
We’re looking forward to welcoming you to our church where you’ll receive the warmest of welcomes.
Heritage Open Days
Author Archives: Walter Tann
War Memorial Restoration
Mission Accomplished
It’s been long overdue but the restoration of our war memorial is finally complete, just in time for the celebration of the 150th Anniversary of our current church building.
If you have sponsored a name, filled Smartie tubes or attended our band concerts, thank you for your support.
We would also like to thank the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Pennine Township for the support in realising this scheme and helping restore our war memorial as a lasting and fitting tribute to the brave men of Milnrow who never came home.
The Fantastic 4 v Peel Tower.
In September we will be commemorating our 150th Anniversary. What better way to get our celebrations and fundraising off to a flying start than jumping off a very tall building. The Fantastic 4, aka, Rachel and John Hill, Mark Duxbury and not one to be left out, our very own, Rev Janet Pitman.
As planning for the Anniversary started a voice from the back row suggested an abseil might be a good idea to raise some funds. Rachel was on it like a shot and before John could count to ten, his name was on the list. Janet’s not one to be left out, so that made three.
Now its not a problem being a novice at abseiling. These well planned events give you at least 5mins training and sometimes you even get a helmet (we are just messing). The team needed a bit of expertise. There could only be one person to approach and that was Mark Duxbury. Not a lot of people know this but Mark is a bit of a pro when it comes to abseiling. Well, what we mean is, he’s done it at least one before!
From September we will be hosting numerous fundraising and social events. We hope you will support one, if not all the events. There’s been a church in Milnrow a lot longer than the current building, but we are immensely proud of our current building and everyone who makes us a living church. Times are exciting as we start the next phase of planning to ensure St James can continue to serve the community of Milnrow for another 150 years.
You can sponsor the Fantastic 4 via JustGiving.com and search for St James Milnrow Abseil. Please get behind the team and help us make this a special 150th Anniversary.
Whit Walk 2019 – Sunday 9th June 2019
On Sunday 9th June we will be holding our annual Whit Walk. The procession will leave the Smith Hill end of St James Street promptly at 10am.
As always we will be accompanied by Middleton Brass Band.
Our fiends from Moorhouse Methodist Church will join us as we walk around the parish eventually ending up in Milnrow Memorial Park. Here there will be a short service and music performed by young people.
Everyone is welcome to join in this amazing tradition that goes back hundreds of years. Can you imagine what it was like to carry the banner in those days? The banner is still the original banner, but these days its at least 3 foot shorter … easy!
Restoration update
Work is progressing well with our restoration scheme. Plasterwork in the chancel is nearing completion and painting has started.
This week the first of 2 new crosses was installed on the roof.
If you would like more information on our restoration work, our would like to support us with our work, drop us a line on st.jamesmilnrow@outlook.com
Chancel Restoration – update
End of week 2 and all enabling works are done. The chancel is screened off; it looks so different.
Now for the messy part.
If you would like more information on the project or would like to help, drop us a line on st.jamesmilnrow@outlook.com, we’d love to hear from you.
Easter Egg Hunt
Come and join in the fun this Easter Sunday
On Sunday 21st April, Easter Sunday, our Sunday School are doing their bit to brighten up the church whilst renovation works continue.
After the service they will be holding an Easter Egg Hunt, so come along and join in the fun.
During the Easter Sunday Eucharist service you are invited to wear your best Easter Bonnet. You never know, their might just be a prize for the best bonnet.
Pennines Township Supports War Memorial restoration scheme
Pennines Township Committee have awarded St James a grant of £2,000 towards our War Memorial restoration scheme.
The grant will be used to reinstate paths to and around the memorial. Work is expected to start in the next few weeks by Lloyd & Smith who are currently undertaking enabling works for our Chancel Restoration. The memorial scheme is expected to take 8-10 weeks.
Everyone at St James would like to thank the Pennines Township Committee for their generous support with this project. If you would like to help please drop us a line on st.jamesmilnrow@outlook.com. We’d love to hear from you.
Chancel Restoration underway
On Monday 25th March 2019 enabling work started
Lloyd and Smith have got of to a flying start. In under a week, scaffolding almost fills the chancel. This week will see the Chancel being sheeted off so roofing and plaster work can commence.
If you would like to support any part of this scheme drop us a line on st.jamesmilnrow@outlook.com. We’d love to hear from you.
Chancel restoration scheme gets approval
St James Chancel 
Chancel ceiling
St James is pleased to announce the next phase of the church restoration has been approved by the Diocese of Manchester and a contract has been awarded to Lloyd & Smith of Oldham. Work will start on Monday 25th March 2019, and is anticipated to take 14 weeks.
Lloyd & Smith have had a long association with St James more recently completing roof repairs and re-slating of the north aisle. With over 15 years of experience in specialist restoration and conservation, Lloyd and Smith have established themselves a national reputation in church restoration schemes. Lloyd and Smith will also be undertaking the restoration of our War Memorial as part of this scheme.
Our long-term vision for St James is to make our building a church fit for the 21st Century, one that will serve the local community of Milnrow on a daily basis rather than just at service times. Our commitment was always to restore the chancel so that the building remains inexcusably recognised as a church, a place of worship.
Once completed, phase 2 of our vision will involve closer links with the local community and local authority to develop an ambitious plan to ensure the remainder of the building can serve the needs of Milnrow better. St James would like to thank Friends of Milnrow Parish for their continued support. Without all the hard work of volunteers at Village Treasures none of these projects would be possible.
Fundraising initiatives will be ongoing to support our vision. If you have any ideas for fundraising or would like to help in some way, please let us know via st.jamesmilnrow@outlook.com