Farewell to Bolton's Distinguished Christian Leader: Canon Dr Chris Bracegirdle
Key Highlights :
On Sunday, parishioners and guests flocked to Bolton Parish Church for the last service to be held by one of Bolton’s most distinguished Christian leaders, The Reverend Canon Dr Chris Bracegirdle. After nearly 40 years of service with the Church, Dr Bracegirdle is now retiring. The service was a fitting tribute to Dr Bracegirdle, with a range of meditations on love and community, and a tongue-in-cheek recreation of This is Your Life.
Speaking after the service, Dr Bracegirdle said his time in Bolton had taught him many profound lessons. He said, “It’s been very humbling, and I accept what everyone has said with deep gratitude. Without in anyway wishing to sound patronising or condescending, it really is about being able to tune into people and connect with people and to present the Christian faith in a warm and welcoming way.”
Along with regular parishioners, Bolton Parish Church was packed on Sunday afternoon with guests including councillors, council officers, voluntary sections and representatives of other faith groups. Dr Bracegirdle said, “The particular relationship that my work in Bolton has tried to build on has been my work with the town, with the schools and with the other faith groups. Just in that way of being a Christian leader in the town and working with the other faith groups.”
The congregation heard impassioned, moving and often very funny reminiscences from Dr Bracegirdle’s friends and colleagues throughout the years, interspersed with hymns and prayers. Dr Bracegirdle told the congregation about one of his very earliest experiences in Blackburn, where a parishioner had told him he would get on fine with them having proven himself “simple” and “common.” Dr Bracegirdle decided to make this his guiding light throughout his career, in his view “simple” and “common” simply meaning that he was there for his flock and that their concerns were his concerns.
Now that he retires after 38 years’ service with the Church of England, Dr Bracegirdle says that he welcomes a “more gentle” change of pace but says it is not the end of his work with the Church just yet. Church Warden Cllr John Walsh said, “I’ve seen Chris at work in both the Church and the town and if you look around and see how many councillors and council officers have come today you’ll see how he has really made this role his own. He’s going to be a very hard act to follow and our next task will be selecting his successor.”
The Reverend Canon Dr Chris Bracegirdle has been a distinguished Christian leader in Bolton for nearly 40 years. His retirement marks the end of an era for the Church of England in Bolton, but his legacy will live on in the hearts of his parishioners and the wider Bolton community.
