Category: History

The events of Spring 2020 will remain long in the memory and its effects will impact upon our world for many years to come. As we wished everyone Happy New Year six months ago, we were blissfully unaware of what was to lie ahead.

Here’s our June 21st newsletter, which is Father’s Day in the UK. Our churches are open for individual prayer. However, all public worship continues to be suspended until further notice.

This June 14th Newsletter gives the great news that from Monday June 15th churches can be open for individual prayer. However, all public worship continues to be suspended until further notice.

This June 7th Newsletter is for Trinity Sunday. It’s where we recognise the one true God as three persons. This also marks our 250th anniversary weekend and there’s a special message from Bishop David.

June 8th marks our 250th anniversary, with the original St John’s being consecrated in 1770. We had a lot of things planned for that weekend but the lock-down has put the mockers on that! In the meantime, please take a look at the middle of the magazine which has some photos and reflections.

This May 31st Newsletter marks Pentecost (or Whit) Sunday. It’s where we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit onto the first followers of Jesus. Acts 2:1-21 details the events of this historic day.

It’s our 250th church anniversary coming up in June and we’ve been asking for memorabilia. One of the gems is a St John’s Church Bury Parish Magazine from April 1968 which has some very revealing letters and editorials uncovering what church life was like here 52 years ago.

Here’s our March 2020 church magazine. There are thoughts about Lent and Mothering Sunday plus more on the upcoming 250th celebrations for St John’s. Also lots of news and views from our various groups as well as this letter from our Reader Emeritus Margery Spencer…

In this bumper Christmas issue we have details of all the many services and events that we have going on. There’s a letter from Dave, about God “mucking in” with us. There are also appeals to help those who are homeless and some reflections on Advent, Christmas and Epiphany.

Three quarters of the way through 2019 already! So, we thought we’d share with you our top 5 posts so far this year. They are each very different but they are a good representation of what we publish. You might have missed them the first time – or you might enjoy reading them again!

On 4 August 1918, the fourth anniversary of the declaration of war, King George V and Queen Mary joined members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords for a special service at the Church of Saint Margaret, Westminster. The King had asked that 4 August 1918 should be observed as a National Day of Prayer: 100 days later the war ended.

On 4 August 2018 churches across the country, across the spectrum of denominations, started 100 days of prayer, peace and reconciliation. We are calling this Remembrance 100

In memory of Lance Corporal John Smith who died 21st April 1917, aged just 26. He left a wife and 2 children.

We remember that during the 1st World War, 123 men from the congregations of St John’s and St Mark’s churches in Bury gave their lives for their country.

A truly shocking number.

5 of these took place in one month, March 1918,

This archive photo of the Mothers’ Union was taken in our church garden. David Howard has just added some names for us – but if you know more please get in touch

The photo above is the interior of the old St John’s church, now no longer with us. The photo was taken in 1927. The church was on The Rock in Bury, approximately where Costa Coffee is now! You can still find some of the memorial stones, set within the nearby garden.