Preston Minster spreading Christmas joy after securing £22k funding to benefit the parish

Preston Minster are spreading joy over the Christmas period

Preston Minster has been instrumental in securing funding of over £22,000 that will benefit its parish.

The funding will be shared with 10 urban deprived churches and parishes across Lancashire on the run-up to Christmas.

The money sent via the Minister, part of the new Preston Resourcing Parish, is being used to provide ‘parcels of hope’ as part of a national initiative called Love Christmas.

Love Christmas is set to deliver one million parcels and packages across the nation, to spread the power of practical love, hope and kindness to people struggling this winter.

The Minster, which has also delivered over 90,000 meals to those in need during lockdown, wanted to help other churches serving in some of the most deprived localities in the county.

The aim was to bring joy at Christmas, by boosting local capacity through the additional funding from Love Christmas.

The parcels contain a wide selection of treats including toys and food shopping vouchers and will be sent to urban deprived churches who responded to a call to participate in the initiative sent out via the Diocese.

Vicar of Preston, Rev. Sam Haigh said: “The stories we hear of isolation and suffering are heartbreaking and almost endless. We know that treats do not solve life’s problems. We see them as small tokens of love.

“Our intention is that they will help reveal the peace Jesus brings at Christmas time and to shed a little joy and light in thousands of homes and to the homeless across Lancashire.”

The various Lancashire churches – including some ecumenical partners – benefitting from the Love Christmas windfall will receive a share of the £22k based on several factors including match funding in relation to other local projects.

The full list of churches:

Beacon Church, Blackpool
St James’ Darwen
Church on the Street, Burnley
Crossgate Church, Preston
St Stephens with St. James Church, Blackburn
Preston Minster
Luv Preston
Freedom Church Preston
St. Mary Magdalene’s, Ribbleton and The Church of the Ascension, Brookfield
St John with St Philip, Nelson
Holy Trinity and St Peter’s Churches, Blackpool

Rt Rev. Philip North, who is Bishop of Burnley and also Chair of The Archbishops’ Estates Evangelism Task Force for The Church of England, said: “This is excellent outcome for the Minster and for these other Lancashire churches.

“After a dark and difficult year, being able to bring some light into the lives of people in communities served by these estates churches across the County is very encouraging.

“It is also encouraging to see the real difference our Preston Resourcing Parish can make when leading on initiatives such as this.”

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Proud Preston. This, and many stories like it, show how the people of Preston are making a difference. Our Proud Preston section showcases all the charitable, kind, uplifting and great things about our city and the people who live here. #ProudPreston is alive and well, and there’s much to celebrate and be proud of, despite the challenging times we all face.

What do you think of the funding? Let us know in the comments.