St Michael and all Angels with St Mark, Preston

News from the Community

What’s Happening…

Christ Church on Victoria Road in Fulwood are running a series of films and discussions on grief. This is for anyone bereaved at anytime. Starting Monday 29th at 7:30pm [Poster]
Local Christian resources company 10 of Those are holding a webinar 10:30am on 2nd October. Should we distance ourselves as far as possible from Halloween, or should we embrace being light in the darkness? Sign up here
Is 'Hostile' Politics Endangering Refugees? [Poster]
Guest Speakers:
MP Adnan Hussain. The Independent Alliance and Independent (Member of Parliament) for Blackburn.
County Councillor Simon Evans. Reform UK and Deputy Leader of Lancashire County Council.
County Councillor Matthew Brown. Labour and Co-operative Party and Leader of Preston City Council.
This event seeks to explore the impact of political narratives and policies on refugees and asylum seekers in the UK.
Date: Thursday 2nd October 2025 Time: 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
At: Preston Quaker Meeting House, 189 St. George’s Road, Preston, PR1 6NQ
ALL WELCOME | FREE EVENT - Booking ONLY Event. Please confirm your attendance via the following link: https://bit.ly/46sO1SH
Our aim is to provide a safe, respectful space where participants can hear a range of perspectives and engage in constructive dialogue.
Please note: Bag and person checks will be required as a condition of entry.
Warm regards, Nadeem Ashfaq Light Foundation
e: nadeem.ashfaq@lightfoundation.org.uk www.lightfoundation.org.uk
t:+44 (0) 7794949217 Registered UK Charity no. 1204424
Fulwood Methodist Church are offering times of Quiet Worship at 4pm on several Sunday dates in the next few months [Poster]
Hope Methodist Church in New Longton have a visiting preacher from national charity All We Can on Sunday 12th October at 6:30pm
Chapel Lane, New Longton, Preston, Lancashire, PR4 4AA.
The Faith Partnerships in Lancashire briefing note is available. This note highlights healthy neighbourhoods, poverty issues and getting prepared for winter. Peter Lumsden Places of Welcome regional coordinator, Gather regional
coordinator, and a justice advocate with the NW England Methodist district.
(pjlumsden58@gmail.com)
There is a Gilbert and Sullivan Group Concert at
Wycliffe Memorial Church Tulketh Brow Ashton PR2 2SH. Saturday 22nd November 2025 7pm. Free Admission, refreshments after the concert.
Please come and enjoy a relaxing evening of music and fellowship.
I would be delighted to bring or provide a Fairtrade stall for your church at any events particularly from now till Christmas. This could be on a Sunday morning or at an Autumn or Christmas Fair or any weekday event. Just get in touch on fairpreston@gmail.com or phone 07813 870641.
Best wishes, Anne Garsed Fairtrade Preston & South Ribble
Local choir Company of Voyces are holding a fundraising Christmas concert to raise funds for Preston Street Pastors. This free to attend evening is open to all and donations can be made on the night, or by texting (see poster). Tickets from: https://StreetPastorVoyces.eventbrite.com
Venue: Central Methodist Church Friday 12th December 7:30pm.
[Poster pdf] [Poster png]
Gina Gonzales of local charity Release Into Victory is available to speak to church groups and fellowships or can bring her craft based activities as a means to public engagement to events. Victory Voices aims to encourage local churches to be Trauma Informed and prepared in order for them to offer a listening ear, to potential victim/survivors within our community. Most relevant for
those who access to 12 Step Recovery Programs. Contact Gina for further information 07597998169 E: csasurvivor3@gmail.com

The Blue Flamingo

Farmers' Market

The third Saturday of each month is market day in Ashton on Ribble. For the last 20 years regular farmers’ markets have been held at St Michael’s church in Tulketh Road.

The markets, which are held in the church hall car park, have become a major event in the local community, offering something for everyone. They provide a really welcome opportunity for people to shop in an environmentally conscious way, buying fresh food from local producers and minimising food miles. The church was a pioneer supporter of FairTrade, and was the first in the whole of Blackburn diocese to be given the coveted ‘Eco-Congregation’ status. The markets extend that commitment, by providing practical support for Lancashire farmers and offering them an opportunity to showcase their produce.

There are fresh vegetables, free-range eggs from local suppliers, fish from Fleetwood, delicious beef and lamb reared on the Cartmel fells, local bread, pies and cakes hand-made in the time-honoured traditional way, and of course plenty of the best cheese in the world – proper Lancashire cheese made just outside Preston in the shadow of Beacon Fell.

It’s a lively and welcoming market which has become quite a social event as well. Even with COVID shoppers are able to meet, socially distanced, with their friends, and chat happily while choosing their fish or vegetables. Going to the supermarket can be a real strain, but the farmers’ markets are just that bit different – friendly, plenty of chance to have a word with the stallholders, and an opportunity to sample a taste of the produce before you buy.

Said market organiser, Jacquie Crosby, ‘We thought of this idea some years ago because we wanted to make a lot more of our church. The building is a historic gem in the middle of the community, but we realised that it was under-used and that we could be imaginative in making it a really useful asset to Ashton and to Preston. So we experimented with holding a market, and we’re very pleased with how it has worked’. She added that customers are glad to have the chance to buy such quality produce on their own doorstep, and that supporting local producers is a real plus, especially in these difficult economic times. ‘For a lot of people in the Ashton area it’s now an event to put on the calendar’, she said, ‘but the more the merrier – we warmly welcome new shoppers. There’s plenty of parking and it’s easy to find at the junction of Tulketh Road and Egerton Road’.

Markets are held on the third Saturday of each month from 9.00am-12.30pm!

We're having plant stalls in April and May and would welcome plant donations in the week before the market