Community & social events in Walmsley Parish
We warmly invite you to our twice monthly Coffee mornings at St. Andrew’s Church Hall and at Walmsley Parish Community Hall:
Please support our social & community fund-raising events. And if anyone out there would like to help with/share any fundraising ideas, please get in touch. There is so much going on in our Parish and wider team. Please do make a note of dates and come along to events whenever you can. We would love to welcome you.
The award-winning TURTON TECH CLUB POP-IN is available at our CAFÉ IN THE HALL : Laptop, Mobile and Tablet Help & Support ~ Ask us ANYTHING! Nikki Barlow will be on hand to deal with any of your tech problems. Open to the Parish, the Team, the Mission Community and beyond! So please come along with or without a device and ask away. Never miss an opportunity to learn a new skill, and spread the word… NEXT DATE: SATURDAY 20 September
Here are the dates for the rest of this year for our monthly event held in Walmsley Parish Community Hall. Please support our fund-raising and social events.
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Ahead of our WINTER WONDERLAND Christmas ‘Café in the Hall’ at Walmsley Parish Community Hall on Saturday 15 November, we are asking for your help with donations. We continue to FUNDRAISE towards replacing the broken boilers at the Hall to enable our amazing community space to provide its usual warm welcome to all users.
Please see what you are able to offer … and leave your contributions at the back of church … or contact us to collect.
Or we are grateful for your monetary donations via this ‘Give A Little’ link. Thank you
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Our Parish Community Hall Manager: John Clayton, and Committee Chairman: Sandra Morris, have organised some SUPER, EXCITING events at the Hall; please DO COME ALONG and support things. We are in danger of losing this much-loved facility if we can’t afford to maintain it!!
Please click THIS LINK to read a report from Sandra M about the situation with Walmsley Parish Community Hall.
Forthcoming attractions at Walmsley Parish Community Hall
Monday 2nd Nov to Saturday 8th Nov – WCAODS presents ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ An epic and thrilling musical based on the novel, with songs from the Disney film. For info and tickets visit https://walmsleychurchaods.co.uk/book-tickets
Saturday 15th Nov – Coffee Morning Christmas Fair – gift ideas galore alongside all your usual coffee morning treats. 10am to 1pm
Saturday 15th Nov – Variety Night Fundraiser presented by LaVolta Dance Bolton. An evening of music and dance raising much-needed funds for the Parish Hall.
Saturday 22nd Nov – Fundraising Concert with The Frequency. All your favourite rock and pop classics…be prepared to boogie!
Friday 28th Nov – Northern Soul and Motown Show – after the success of her Cilla show earlier this year, Sandy returns to the Parish Hall with a show packed with toe-tapping hits from the 60’s and 70’s. For tickets visit https://www.ents24.com/uk/tour-dates/a-night-of-motown-and-northern-soul-belle-voix-trio
Sandy Smith is returning to Walmsley Parish Community Hall… and it will be a Northern Soul/Motown show, so a good excuse for everyone to get out their dancing shoes.
Sunday 30th Nov – Craft and Makers Market – the perfect opportunity to buy that special Christmas gift for a loved one….or you could just treat yourself! The market opens at 11.
Friday 12th Dec to Sunday 14th Dec – Stagedoor Theatre Productions present ‘Aladdin’…the pantomime where all your wishes come true. For info and tickets visit: www.ticketsource.co.uk/stagedoor
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PAST EVENTS
What a fabulous concert on Friday 10 October by the exceedingly talented Madalina Rusu 
With a varied programme including Schubert, Liszt, Chopin, Schumann, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff and Piazzolla, this young pianist flawlessly performed for over 90 minutes (without a single note of music) and gave superb, detailed introductions to each piece (again from memory), with as much passion as she then gave in the recital which followed.
There was a (fairly) small – but very enthusiastic – audience in the warm welcome of Christ Church Walmsley. Everyone left with a smile on their face (… and a glass of wine served at the interval inside them 
).
Thank you to everyone who came along … and especially thank you to Madalina – whose hands were at times a blur as they travelled effortlessly over the keys – for displaying her incredible pianistic skills on our beautiful Bechstein Grand 
[For Videos of her performance, please visit Walmsley Parish Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19m3zNBtXP/?mibextid=wwXIfr]
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Friday 26th Sept – Macmillan Coffee Morning – Every cuppa and every penny counts to support people living with cancer in the UK. 10.30am -12.00
Jo & Stephen Woods – who organized the Macmillan Coffee Morning at Walmsley Parish Community Hall – wish to thank everyone who came and supported this worthwhile charitable event, or helped in any way, and are delighted to announce that it was a super day and raised £720!!
If you were unable to attend and wish to make a donation to Macmillan Cancer Support, please click this LINK or, to support Jo’s Campaign, please use this QR code:
Huge thanks to Jo and Stephen Woods for their annual staging of this fundraiser for Macmillan.
Jo has shared some photos of helpers that morning… including the giraffe to be named …
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Sunday 21st Sept – ‘A Bit of Lanky Panky’ – 2pm to 4pm: – This was a unique event of laugh-out-loud comedy, stories, catchy choruses and joiney-in bits with Buzz Hawkins and Dom Collins …and Alf, Audrey & Billy joined us from ‘The Bradshaws’ too. What a brilliant afternoon’s entertainment!!
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Christ Church Walmsley hosted a very special SONGS OF PRAISE CONCERT on Sunday 14 September, when Bolton Hoover Brass Band – which has a strong connection with Christ Church -played a brilliant selection of music.
An introduction was given to many of the hymns by MC Rev Angie Foster, explaining why the hymn had been chosen – and what it meant to that person – before the band accompanied and the audience sang a couple of verses of each.
The band also played several beautiful hymns especially arranged for Brass Band, many from the Salvation Army concert library, including ‘Amazing Grace’, ‘Be still my soul’, ‘Nicaea’ and a fantastic rendition of Hymn to the Highlands: ‘Flowerdale’ by soprano cornet soloist, Andrew Lofthouse, one of the best cornet players in the country.
HUGE THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO GAVE THEIR SUPPORT to this fund-raising concert 😊
The HOOVER BAND were absolutely brilliant and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon. £1,000 was raised towards church refurbishment, and there is a potential ‘second instalment’ planned at St. Peter’s Church, Belmont, in April. Watch this space…!!
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Thank you to all who joined us at Christ Church Walmsley on Saturday 30 August at 3pm for a delightful concert with a skilled ‘cellist, Lucy Hepburn and her Mum, Ilona, a professional musician … the performances – accompanied also by the beautiful strains of our Bechstein Grand – were exquisite. If you weren’t able to go, you missed a treat!! 
£1,500 was donated towards the cost of a new ‘cello to enable Lucy to continue her studies. Lucy sends her grateful thanks and appreciation for everyone’s generosity.
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Thank you to everyone who helped with – or came along to – the jigsaw festival at our Café @ the Hall in JULY. Thank you also to Amelie who made and sold delicious cakes and raised £100, making a total of £590 raised that morning towards the cost of the new boiler for Walmsley Parish Community Hall.
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A FUND-RAISING EVENT WAS HELD AT THE HIDEAWAY AFTER THE 9.30am FAMILY SERVICE & PARADE at Christ Church Walmsley on Sunday 6 July for the BBQ from 10.30am- 2.30pm
Sausage and bacon barms will be available down on The Hideaway car park as people come out of church after the FAMILY SERVICE & PARADE. No ticket required.
Money is being raised to, hopefully, install a lift for our disabled Cub Leader and other users with mobility issues.
There was also music and plenty of stalls – what a fabulous get-together!!
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We held a very special concert on Saturday 7 June, when Ilona Hepburn performed with her fellow musicians for our delight and enjoyment… Thank you to all who came and supported.
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A GREAT START TO 2025: SATURDAY 22 FEBRUARY: 7:30pm. Walmsley Parish Community Hall.
Celebrating the Life and Music of the legendary Cilla Black, Cilla & The Swinging 60s is a highly entertaining show, starring the unforgettable voice of Sandy Smith.
What a fabulous evening of entertainment!! ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!! A feel-good night that we could have honestly enjoyed all over again. Sandy Smith was a super singer, and brought everyone together to have a fabulous time. We look forward to her coming back to perform again.
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Our first Craft and Makers Market here at Walmsley Parish Community Hall with Evergreen Events on Sunday 2nd March 2025was wonderful!
Over 30 local talented small businesses will be showcasing their lovingly made creations, with unique gifts, home decor, local artists; it had something special for everyone. It was a wonderful opportunity to find one–of–a–kind pieces whilst investing into your community.
With food and refreshments provided by our Walmsley ‘Café in the Hall’ Team. 
[Proceeds from the refreshments were for Walmsley Parish Community Hall fundraising.]
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2024 ~ Successful events earlier this year:
Advent Prayer and Activity Day – St. Andrew’s Church
Saturday 23rd November 10am – 4pm
A day filled with fun, faith and friendship when members of our two churches came together and volunteers shared their talents and skills on an Advent / Christmas theme, with time for prayer at the beginning, at lunchtime and at the close of the day’s activities. Thank you to Angie Foster for organising it. To read more about it and to see photographs, please click the blue link to this post
Photography Competition
To raise awareness of the ecology of our area and encourage conservation.
Five categories to enter: Waterways – Walkways – Woodland – Wildlife – Wild Flora.
The exhibition of entries were on display at Christ Church Walmsley on Sunday October 6th 2024 .
The entries received for the photography competition were so very professional; real skill was shown in capturing some amazing scenes and wildlife. Thank you to everyone who entered, and thank you to Ken Holt for organising this to highlight the amazing beauty and diverse ecology we have across the Turton Moorland Team.
The photos were on display in church when the Bishop of Bolton joined us for a joint Harvest Service at the beginning of October. They really were stunning – so professional – and it was good to talk to some of the photographers about them !! They would grace any wall in our homes!
Macmillan Coffee Event: FRIDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 11am to 1pm .
Thank you to everyone who supported the Macmillan event at Walmsley Parish Community Hall. Jo Woods is pleased to announce that the total of £802 will go to this worthwhile charity.
Thank you to Jo and ‘team’ for organising this.
WALMSLEY LIVE LOUNGE 4 – Saturday 21 September @ 7.30pm in Walmsley Parish Community Hall. This was a wonderfully laid-back and relaxed musical evening with some amazing singer/song-writers showing their skills… What a fabulous way to spend an evening in the company of friends.
Piano and violin recital at Christ Church Walmsley
Saturday 7 September – 4pm – FREE entry with retiring collection + CAKE!!!!
A rare opportunity to hear some of the best upcoming musical talent in the country from local young performers.
Dana is an 18 year old violinist from Ukraine, now living in Egerton. She has a place to study violin at RNCM starting in October.
Harry is a 17 year old pianist from Belmont, attending Canon Slade 6th form and hopes to go to a London conservatoire after his A levels.
They met at the Royal Northern Junior College where they both attended Saturday school.
They will curate a programme of classical music to include some solo violin and solo piano pieces and also some items in which Harry will accompany Dana.
What a fabulous concert we were treated to at Christ Church Walmsley that afternoon. The incredible musical skills of 18-year old Dana filled every corner of our church with her amazing violin playing and the superb pianistic talents of 17-year old Harry made our beautiful Bechstein grand positively resound with joy!
The repertoire was wonderfully varied and ranged from Bach & Telemann to Messiaen & Massenet, with Chopin, Tchaikovsky & Debussy en route.
Thank you to everyone who helped in the planning, preparation and cake-making, with special thanks to Nicola K, Sheila B, Church Warden Hilary D … and also to cuppa pourers Anne McC & Abigail B.
And huge thanks to everyone who came to enjoy the performance … and support with their donations, which are to be split between Sing for Pleasure and our church roof repairs.
ECO DAY in and around CHRIST CHURCH WALMSLEY on SATURDAY 17 FEBRUARY:
A FUN DAY FOR ALL THE FAMILY
Thank you to everyone who helped with – or came along to participate in – the activities at our ECO DAY. Everyone seems to have had a great time … see if you can spot the new nesting boxes as you walk through the grounds up at Christ Church Walmsley and the bug hotel as you walk around the back of church.
Thank you to HOWARTH TIMBER & BUILDING SUPPLIES, who donated all the materials for making the nesting boxes.
Huge thanks also to Ken Holt, who was the inspiration for the activity, to Nick Hitchen, who cut, prepped and assisted youngsters in the making of the nesting boxes, and to Aubrey McCreesh, Phil Shaw and Jenny Murphy, who helped on the day with building the BUG HOTEL and litter picking.
To see photos of the day, please access the separate post: https://
This was an opportunity for children – of all ages – and adults to get involved, make bird boxes, learn about our eco challenges, etc…
LIVE LOUNGE 2 – 7pm on SATURDAY 17 FEBRUARY
This was an excellent evening at Walmsley Parish Community Hall.
Thank you to all the performers for sharing their musical skills and talent – and to Dean Lane and John Clayton for organising it.
Reverend Hannah Lane, our enthusiastic, energetic and enigmatic Team Curate here in Walmsley Parish, was the inspiration for this amazing concert to CELEBRATE the 185th YEAR of Walmsley Church – a wonderful concert performed by ASTLEY UNLIMITED BAND & CHOIR – 7pm on SATURDAY 24 FEBRUARY in Christ Church Walmsley.
See our Walmsley Parish Facebook page for a write up of this amazing evening … and to watch Rev Hannah’s TERRIFIC TUBA SOLO if you’d like another listen :
(https://www.facebook.com/walmsleyparish/videos/408790791544681)
Astley Unlimited Choir were amazing also, with a wonderful repertoire, a skilful accompanist who made our Bechstein parlour grand ‘sing’ … and we were treated to beautiful solos by Kathryn Whitfield (who happens to be Rev Hannah’s Mum!)
Our EASTER THEMED CAFÉ in the Hall at WALMSLEY PARISH COMMUNITY HALL on SATURDAY 9 MARCH: 10am til midday was a good community event. Thank you to all who attended or helped in any way. Special thanks to Wendy, Anne & Kim, who worked so hard in the kitchen with the other volunteers – and made beautiful Easter gifts. They also knitted beautiful pink buttoned hearts ‘with love’ for all the ladies on Mothering Sunday in church.
SATURDAY 9th MARCH 2024
Thanks you to all who came along and had a wonderful time at the Ceilidh in Walmsley Parish Community Hall with a night of music and dancing for all ages and all levels of skill/ability.
Special thanks to Sandra Morris for organising it and to our Hall Manager John Clayton (and his son-in-law, Josh) who manned the extensive bar.
We held an OPEN DAY at Christ Church Walmsley on SATURDAY 13 APRIL 10am-4pm. We hope you popped in, had a look around and learned lots about your church …
And, as this coincided with our Café at Walmsley Parish Community Hall from 10am til midday, we hope you came and shares a brew and a breakfast barm … maybe with a cake too + a browse of the stalls.
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS TEAM EVENT HAD TO BE CANCELLED, due to having sold few tickets…
