An introduction to the
Bolton Circuit
The Bolton Circuit is part of the Bolton and
Rochdale District under the Chairmanship of Rev David King. The Bolton Circuit is divided
into Mission Centres. For more details on these, click here.
The Bolton Circuit surrounds the separate Victoria
Hall Circuit comprising one large Mission Church in Bolton town centre.
Despite being a large Circuit the area covered is
reasonably compact. The nineteen churches, which represent a wide aspect of community
life, range in membership from 20 to 200 and being situated in a variety of population
centres including town centres, suburbs and villages as well as multi-ethnic areas, have
strong links to other faiths.
The Circuit is active with regular Circuit Services
and regular Circuit Youth activities. Each June a Circuit Consultation event is held to
give people the opportunity to discuss a topic, usually passed on from Conference. Other
Circuit events organised by the Circuit Working Party include resource and music evenings.
The Circuit meeting is well attended and is served
by a Circuit Leadership Team comprising Circuit Stewards and members of both Ministry and
Lay. An annual Youth Weekend is held in Spring, Network is well supported with
monthly meetings and an annual garden party and several other interesting and varied
events take place each year.
The Circuit reflects the wide diversity of cultures
in the town, always with a strong sense of its task to bring the Love of God and the
Gospel of Jesus into the lives of people.
After his second visit to Bolton on Wednesday 18th
October 1749 John Wesley wrote in his journal:
"I rode, at the desire of Jon Bennet, to Rochdale, in Lancashire. We no sooner
entered the main street than we perceived the lions of Rochdale were lambs in comparison
with these at Bolton, such rage and bitterness I scarce ever saw before in any
creatures that bore the form of men".
Things have changed - honest! |
