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The Welcome Project
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The 30th September, 1996, in the 200th year after the opening
of the original Wesleyan Chapel on the Moor, saw the opening
of 'The Welcome' (a former shop premises) at Longridge,
established by Knutsford's Methodist Chapel as the seed for
'planting' a 'local' church for the people of the Longridge
community.
The plan was to start by using 'The Welcome' as a
base for community programmes and the sale of second-
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own - a focus of friendliness, spiritual support and worship.
A newly ordained Deacon, Sue Jackson, was appointed in 1995 to
oversee the establishment of the Over Ward ministry.
After two years of dedicated efforts in building relationships
across this community via friendship, counselling and support,
she became nominated by the Methodist Church for work in
London.
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hand clothes. In the longer term it was hoped that the people
of Longridge might progressively adopt 'The Welcome' as their
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Her successor from 1 Sept 1998 to'The Welcome' was
Deacon Margaret Fleming. Margaret, with her husband Paul,
continued Sue's work, successfully encouraging the regular
attendance by members of the Over Ward community at the various
activities organised in the Centre. Margaret and Paul chose
to live within the Over Ward area, from where Margaret continued
her work both within the community and at 'The Welcome' until,
in the Summer of 2001, she was accepted for training for the
presbyteral ministry. In September 2001 she took up her first
appointment, in St. Helens.
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In September 2001, a probationary Minister, Rev Cris Acher, was appointed as Margaret's replacement for the Over Ward project. At the same time, a lay manager, Debbie Clark, was recruited to look after
the day-to-day running of 'The Welcome', allowing Cris to concentrate on the pastoral side of the work. In practice, however, the natural operation of 'The Welcome' inevitably drew Debbie also into the pastoral area. She enthusiastically responded to the challenge, whence this work devolved very much into a team activity between them both.
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Rev Cris Acher
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Mrs. Debbie Clarke
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At the same time, Debbie embarked upon training for the Diaconal Ministry. Meanwhile, Cris was also successfully working to encourage the Knutsford Methodist Church's work with the young people in the community. In 2004, he was offered the opportunity to pursue this particular area of work in the city of Manchester. He moved to the new appointment in September of that year. The Rev Richard Byass was nominated as his replacement for the work at 'The Welcome'.
More information about the ongoing life of 'The Welcome' can be found under the 'During Week' section on this web-site.
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Rev Richard Byass
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