St Michael and all Angels with St Mark, Preston

News from the Community

What’s Happening…

Preston Salvation Army are once again collecting toys and gifts for ages up to 18. Gifts are given to those families in Preston and Chorley areas who are in the most desperate of circumstances.
At the moment they are very short of gifts for boys and girls from 9-12 and 13-18. Please could you let your friends and churches know and lets see if we can help out. Please check the poster for details and times to drop off etc., by the end of next week if at all possible to allow for sorting by the elves. [Poster of ideas]
Other Christmas services and activities at the Salvation Army [Leaflet]
Salvation Army Foodbank - If you wish to give food and toiletry items (and they are always very welcome!) the foodbank is currently low on:
Tinned tomatoes, tinned potatoes, coffee (sachets preferably) sugar, long life milk, rice pudding, custard, crisps, tinned vegetables, tinned fruit, tinned pasta.
They have enough of these for the moment - dried, pasta, cereals and tinned meat.
Thank you as always to those who donate so generously. People who arrive at the door in need, leave with a weight lifted from their shoulders (but the bags are still heavy!)
Preston Orpheus Choir present “A Cosy Christmas” with Leyland Band, The Walton Family Singers and St Andrews Choir. Saturday 13th December 7pm at St Michaels and All Angels Church PR2 1AJ. Booking via QR code on poster, tickets £15 with concessions available.
[Poster]
Sunday 14th December at Freckleton Methodist Church PR4 1HS - The Messiah by GF Handel, performed by The KVU Singers. 2:30pm Part 1, 4pm Interval and Tea in the Village Hall, 6pm parts 2 and 3. Free entry but donations welcome! [Poster] [Press Release]

A Broughton Christmas - an evening of festive choral favourites sung by the choir of St John Baptist, Broughton. Thursday 18th December 7:30pm [Poster]
Christmas at Fulwood Methodist Church programme of events [Poster]
Christmas services at Christ Church, Fulwood [Poster]
Christmas services at St John the Baptist church, Broughton [Poster]
The King of Kings returns to Vue this Christmas from Boxing Day as part of the Mighty Mornings family programme - with tickets from just £2.49. A powerful way to bring the meaning of Christmas to friends, family, and anyone who missed the UK box-office hit this Easter.
Lancashire Movement for Recovery summit – 20th January 2026
I think that this summit is very timely (one might always say that!) but given the flux and 'crisis' in health and politics, and the uncertainty around the future geographies of local government in Lancashire, that statement does not seem out of place. Amongst all of that, the stability and endurance of the faith sector is, I think, a vital element of civic society, and we have perhaps not been as bold as we might to recognise and promote that. Hopefully this summit will contribute to that change
In any change movement, we need just a few people to create the momentum for change. However, one person (e.g. me) cannot effect that alone, they need allies who are equally bought into the vision, and I count you as ne such.
So, if you in turn are able to influence any clergy / deacons / 'leaders' in the broadest sense who you think are 'natural allies', perhaps you could drop them a personal line to sign-up and register for the summit on 20th Jan.
Typically for these events we get a good turnout from civic leaders - far lower from church. Let's reverse that! [Info and sign up link]
Peter Lumsden
Gather Movement Lancashire Regional Connector; Places of Welcome regional coordinator for Lancashire; representing Faith networks on the Lancashire and South Cumbria VCFSE alliance, Justice advocate for the NWE Methodist district
Tel: 07929270753
Online and In Situ Christian Retreats led by Donna Worthington
For bookings, please see the website or contact Donna Worthington: drworthington@live.co.uk www.christianretreats.live
[2026 Programme of events]
DECEMBER 2025
(ONLINE) The Healing of Legion | (Mark 5: 1-20)
In Mark’s Gospel emerges an incredible text. It’s a glimpse of a possessed man
isolated, harming himself, violent, and living among the haunting landscape of
tombs; the Greek word for ‘tomb’ can also mean ‘memory’. Modern
understandings of this character called ‘Legion’ would probably see him as
suffering from PTSD.
Then the brave, discerning, healer Christ crosses the sea to face the man’s
belligerent demons… and later, the villagers are amazed at the man’s
transformation. This encounter of such hope will provide a potent space in which
to invite Christ into our chaos, the calm, knowing and healing Christ who sits
down beside us, listens and offers us freedom. Wednesday 10 th December 7-
9.30pm

Previously emailed events…but still current!

Updated 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). Local charities will have stands at the event so please come and support them too! Tickets from: https://StreetPastorVoyces.eventbrite.com
Venue: Central Methodist Church Friday 12th December 7:30pm.
[Poster pdf] [Poster png]
Free car parking options from 3/4pm,
https://www.visitpreston.com/visit-blog/Free-Christmas-city-centre-parking

Singers at Hope Methodist Church are inviting everyone to ‘Stargazers’ a Christmas Musical by Roger Jones - Sunday 7th December 6.30pm. [Poster]
All Saints' Church New Longton -
The annual Lostock Hall Memorial Band Christmas Concert will be returning on Sunday 14th December and we hope you can attend this fabulous event!
Tickets are £10 per adult and £5 per child and are on sale now, both in church and online - see [Poster] * Please note: there will be a small booking fee for tickets purchased online.
All Saints' Church and Hope Methodist Church are delighted to join together once more, along with All Saint's’ School, businesses and residents of New Longton, for Advent Windows 2025. We will be collecting donations throughout the month for Derian House.
1st December - 6pm: Advent Windows launch event at Hope Methodist Church
2nd - 23rd December: A new window will light up in New Longton each evening.
Christmas Eve - 4pm: The Advent Windows Trail begins at Hope Methodist Church and ends at All Saints’ Church, with mulled wine, mince pies and carols
Together, we will turn New Longton into a giant Advent Calendar!
[Poster]
Carols from the Coffee Shop @ Central Methodist Church, Lune Street.
This is a community event and featuring presentations from the Illumination Choir Wednesday 3rd December 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm
A thirty minute service, giving an alternative countdown to Christmas.
Afterwards there will be FREE hot drinks and mince pies. [Poster]
Kind Regards, Mrs Sarah O'Halloran
Project Manager - Central Methodist Church, Preston
Mobile No. 07934511707
Our Lady & St. Edwards, Marlborough Drive, Fulwood will host a Christmas Music Festival on Sunday 21st December at 2.00 - 5.00 pm. There will be a small charge on entry, which will be donated to a charity chosen by Churches Together.
Updated Monday 8th December 7pm Christian Police Association Carol Service
All Saints Church Preston. Churches Together in Lancashire enjoys working with the Christian Police Association. Please do encourage your church or groups to join with those who serve in our communities to keep us safe. The service takes place at All Saints Church, Elizabeth Street, Preston PR1 2RX. The music will be led by the Preston Band of the Salvation Army and joined by the St Andrew’s Oswaldtwistle, Primary School Choir. Readings will be given from across the Christian ecumenical community in Lancashire. [Poster]
Thursday 18th December Midday “Lancashire Carers Sing Christmas”
with Churches Together in Lancashire and Radio Lancashire
The resources are all in place for this year’s Lancashire Carers Sing Christmas. You are invited to tune in at Midday on 18th December, or later on that day, or on a day and time that works best for you using BBC Sounds. Your venue needs a good sound system into which you can play your radio, smart device or laptop. (Make sure you have good radio signal or internet).
The midday programme will work well with those who host lunch-clubs:
Serving Suggestion:
Gather from 11.30am for mince pies
From midday enjoy singing along using the carol sheets or Powerpoint.
Be encouraged by the stories of Care at Christmas across the community
The stories will be given by both statutory and voluntary community services which this year will include the Chief Fire Officer for Lancashire, Carers Link, Resolve Poverty amongst other community guests.
This year the churches will be represented by the Rt Revd Joe Kennedy, Bishop of Burnley and the new Divisional Leaders of the NW Salvation Army. The music will be led by the Blackburn Band of the Salvation Army and the Blackburn People’s Choir.
To download the resources please follow this link:
https://www.ctlancashire.org.uk/lancashire-carers-sing-christmas-2025/
I will put any local events on the CTL Page, but also we can give you “shout-out” during the programme, so please let me know who and where you are as soon as possible. You can text or voice message to Radio Lancashire from 11.00am as there will be features during Sharon Hartley’s Show.
We have up to 30 places in the Studio Audience. If you would like to be a member of the Studio Audience, please email me at: antonmuller@ctlancashire.org.uk
I hope very much that once again you can help us bring the joyful and caring message to the whole community of Lancashire.
With best wishes, Anton
The Revd Anton Muller - antonmuller@ctlancashire.org.uk
18th – 25th January 2026 “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity”
https://ctbi.org.uk/week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity/
For 2026, the prayers and reflections for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity have been prepared by the faithful of the Armenian Apostolic Church, along with their brothers and sisters of the Armenian Catholic and Evangelical Churches.
If you are planning local events please do let me know so that these can be shared for prayer and support.
The Revd Anton Muller - antonmuller@ctlancashire.org.uk
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity service to be held at St. Cuthbert's Church, Lytham Road, Fulwood on Sunday, 18th January 2026 at 3.00 pm.

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