Prestwich Parish welcomes Monk from Mirfield

Date published: 13 April 2011

A monk from the Community of the Resurrection in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, will be welcomed to Prestwich next week as he comes to join a local parish for the celebration of the most important week in the Christian year.

Fr Oswin Gartside CR is a member of the Anglican monastic community, which has a rich tradition of spirituality, and will be spending the week, beginning on Palm Sunday (April 17th), working in St Margaret’s parish.

The monks at Mirfield are not cut off from the world, but, inspired by the rule of St Benedict, are fully part of the Church of England and work hand-in-hand with a wide variety of people in the UK and overseas. Nevertheless, the visit is unusual and parishioners are looking forward to welcoming the brother.

Fr Oswin will undertake more than a dozen engagements during the week running up to Easter Day, which Christians call Holy Week. His visit is part of a packed programme of services, displays, gatherings, meals, children’s activities and other events at St Margaret’s Prestwich and St George’s Simister for the week which celebrates Jesus’ death and resurrection.

As well as sharing in a men’s breakfast at TGI Fridays, a children’s craft session, an Easter family fun afternoon, a Christian Passover meal and a walk of witness, the Church will be offering services every day from Palm Sunday (April 17th) to Easter Day (April 24th).

Brother Oswin will give an address in St Margaret’s Church each day during the traditional services – at 9.45am on Sunday 17th, at 7.30pm on Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th, at 10.00am on Wednesday 20th, at 7.30pm on Thursday 21st, at 2.00pm on Good Friday, at 8.00pm on Saturday 22nd and at 9.45am on Easter Day. He’ll also be taking part in events at St George’s Church, Simister on both Sundays and on Good Friday.

The events will kick off on Sunday morning when children and adults will take part in a Procession of Palms. The traditional Palm Sunday event begins in Peveril Close (M45 6NS) at 9.00am, before worshippers process through the streets of the parish to St Margaret’s Church carrying palm branches to commemorate Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem before his death. After that, the week gets underway with dozens of events and opportunities in the countdown to Easter Day. Full details can be found at www.acny.co.uk/prestwich-st-margaret

The Revd. Debby Plummer, Priest-in-Charge of the parish, said: “This week is the heart of the Christian year. In fact, there would be no Christianity without the events which we celebrate this week. So I’m delighted that Brother Oswin is coming to Prestwich to share these events with us – and I’m inviting the whole community to come along and take part in the pilgrimage week as well, as much or as little as you like. Everyone is very welcome and warmly invited as we travel together towards a joyful Easter.”