St John’s Church, Flixton

04/06/2026

St. John’s Church, Irlam Road, Flixton.

A MESSAGE FROM REV. DEBRA BLAIR

HERE COMES THE SUN!
Have you heard the sun sing? As summer begins we are so blessed that the sun has been shining and we had some very warm weather at the end of May. We hope there are more sunny days to come.

In this beautiful world God created for us we have so many things to be thankful for and the sunshine is certainly one of them. There are lots of descriptions and stories relating to the sun – an image I like is this: “The sun is a gold coin that was dropped down a drain in heaven.” We know that God created the sun with a specific purpose: “God made the two great lights – the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night – and the stars.” (Genesis 1: 16). We can praise the Lord,
then, for the gift of the sun when it rises and for the dark of evening as it falls. There is beauty in the sunrise and sunset.

Our lives are like that, too. We have sunny times and we have darker times, but we can be confident God is always with us.

Here at St John’s we are looking to have some joyful times over the
coming months and, even though there may be dark days ahead, we have God and also one another. We never know what is round the corner for us as a church community.

A new opportunity has presented itself to us to help support the young people in this area with a Trafford Youth Service youth club starting in our church hall. Please pray that this will be a success and for the leaders as they work in our church hall each week. We also pray that the young people may be touched by God’s presence in a place where other young folk have encountered God in past years, that they may know God loves them and that stars of promise may shine in their hearts and minds.

We do hope and pray that seeds of faith are spread among all who enter our buildings.
Best wishes and blessings,
Reverend Debra

ECO TIP
You can reduce your own carbon footprint by reviewing the way you travel around. Now the weather is improving, it is a good time for those who can to start walking or cycling to your destination. If you are in need of transport, then always consider car-sharing or public transport. The majority of our bus network is now run on Green energy sources. Do your little bit for the planet.

ARCHDEACON'S VISITATION DATES
These services, when lay leaders in our churches are invited to dedicate themselves for the year ahead, are open to everyone and especially church officers.

This year there are three dates for our Archdeaconry: 4th June at St
Michael’s and All Saints, Lawton Moor (Wythenshawe); 10th June at St Matthew with St Mary, Crumpsall, and 17th June at Manchester
Cathedral – all at 7.30pm.

GET A GOOD READ
Taste and See, the Christian book/gift shop and café, relocated last year to Brook Road in Flixton. Please do call in and visit the team there – they have some wonderful books and gifts and also a range of second-hand Christian books, all in good condition and reasonable priced. Urmston Bookshop in Flixton Road now also has a small section of Christian books.

YOUTH CLUB ON TUESDAY EVENINGS
On Tuesday, 9th June, a youth club will be commencing in St John’s church hall from 5pm to 7pm. It’s being run by a team from Trafford Youth Service – it began at Flixton Library but they were looking for more space and came to see our PCC some weeks ago. Please pray for the success of this group: we hope we’ll develop good contacts with them. Young people in Flixton – as in other areas – have few places where they can safely meet: let us hope this may be one of them.

PLEASE NOTE…..
Our next afternoon tea/coffee/biscuits/chat session will be held from 2pm-3.30pm on Tuesday, 7th July in church.

Thursday Holy Communion services are to be held at St. John’s at
10.30am on 4th and 18th June and at St Michael’s Flixton at 10.15am on 11th and 25th June.

On Thursday 4th June St Mary's Davyhulme have a service for the Day of Thanksgiving for the Institution of Holy Communion (“Corpus Christi”) at 7.30pm, and all are welcome.

On Sunday 14th June at 10.30am we are again pleased to have Reverend John Clegg preach and preside at our service.

At the end of summer Rev Luke Maguire, Rector of All Saints in Stretford and our Mission Community Leader, is leaving the area for a new phase of his ministry at St John the Evangelist Highbridge. He has been at All Saints for 11 years and will be missed by the church community there and by us as a Mission Community.

Archdeacon Rachel Mann is retiring next month. You may remember her time at St Matthew’s in Stretford. There is a service for her on 5th July at 5.30pm at Manchester Cathedral: all are welcome.

03/05/2026

St. John’s Church, Irlam Road, Flixton.

A MESSAGE FROM REV. DEBRA BLAIR

THE MAN FOR ALL SEASONS
We have travelled through Lent, Holy Week and Easter Sunday, but we are still in Easter time for a few weeks more. As Christians at St. John’s, we always aim to be celebrating the risen Christ whatever the time of year. He truly is a man for all seasons. He is not here just for us at Easter but for every day of our lives.

Every season has its own unique elements. We are now in spring which is especially a time of growth here in the UK.
“Easter comes with cheeks a-glowing
Flowers bloom and streams are flowing,
And the earth in glad surprise
Opens wide its springtime eyes….
All nature heeds the call of Spring
As God awakens everything.” (Helen Steiner Rice. 1985)

As we journey on, we should thank God for spring and all its blessings and also thank God for the blessings he has bestowed on us.

We have held our annual church meeting as required by the Church of England and we are so thankful that all the necessary voluntary lay positions, required to keep the church running smoothly, have been filled by members of this congregation. We now embark upon our new church year with our PCC. All of our blessings come from God; he knows our needs: “God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” (Ephesians Ch.1 v 3).

It all lies now before us and it is a time to celebrate. All of it is in God’s hands; he knows the plans he has for us all and we should be alert to his directions. God is the true leader of the church, and we can say “Thy will be done” (Matthew Ch 6 v.10). Whatever plans he has for us, we will listen to his direction and follow his will.

Best wishes and blessings,
Reverend Debra

ECO TIP
It is spring and time to clear out your wardrobes ready for the warmer weather – we hope! If you have any good quality gloves, scarves, socks or hats, please bring them along to St. John’s. We continue to support St John’s Old Trafford Community Centre who provide essential items to people struggling with the economic challenges of today. They also provide items to legitimate refugees and asylum seekers. Alongside the clothing items they also require toiletries and shaving equipment for males. There is a box for donations in the foyer.

THANK YOU!
Thank you to everyone who contributed to our Holy Week and Easter Sunday services. It is one of the most important weeks of the year in Christian calendar, so thanks to all who made this week such a wonderful experience this year.

PLEASE NOTE….
Our Coffee, Tea and Chat social afternoon is on Tuesday 5th May – from 2pm to 3.30pm in church. Come and bring your friends.

There’s a final “Gathering” sharing a vision for the future in our diocese, with fellowship, worship and prayer, at St Ann’s Church, Manchester city centre, on Tuesday 5th May at 7.15pm (6.45pm for refreshments), with the Bishop of Manchester leading. Ask Reverend Debra for booking details.

Thursday Holy Communion services are to be held at St. John’s at 10.30am on 7th and 21st May and at St Michael’s Flixton at 10.15am on 14th and 28th May.

Reverend Canon Kate Burgess’s last service at St Matthew’s Stretford will be on Sunday 10th May at 10am. If anyone wishes to attend, just go along. We wish her well for her retirement.

Ascension Day is Thursday 14th May, and all are invited to a Holy Communion service to celebrate, at 7.30pm at St Mary’s Davyhulme.

A School of Prayer led by Bishop Mark Davies is being held on Saturday 16th May at St Cross Church, Clayton – refreshments at 9.30am, formal start at 10am, finish at 3pm. Ask Reverend Debra for booking details.

On Sunday 17th May at 10.30am we are delighted to have Reverend John Clegg to preach and preside at our service.

30/04/2026

COME AND JOIN US – AT ST. JOHN’s CHURCH
Irlam Road, Flixton

First Tuesday of every month we are opening the church for coffee, tea, biscuits and a chat.

Everyone is welcome. All free! We just ask for your company.

2PM UNTIL 3-30pm

Tuesday, 5th May
Tuesday, 2nd June
Tuesday, 7th July
Tuesday, 4th August
Tuesday, 1st September
Tuesday, 6th October
Tuesday, 3rd November
Tuesday, 1st December

***PLEASE PUT THE DATES IN YOUR DIARY AND COME ALONG***

05/04/2026

02/04/2026

COME AND JOIN US – AT ST. JOHN’s CHURCH

Irlam Road, Flixton

First Tuesday of every month we are opening the church for coffee, tea, biscuits and a chat.

Everyone is welcome. All free! We just ask for your company.

2PM UNTIL 3-30pm
Tuesday, 7th April
Tuesday, 5th May
Tuesday, 2nd June
Tuesday, 7th July
Tuesday, 4th August
Tuesday, 1st September
Tuesday, 6th October
Tuesday, 3rd November
Tuesday, 1st December

***PLEASE PUT THE DATES IN YOUR DIARY AND COME ALONG***

29/03/2026

St. John’s Church, Irlam Road, Flixton.

A MESSAGE FROM REV. DEBRA BLAIR

WE WALK BY FAITH

We are beginning the month of April with the glorious celebration of Easter – a time of joy, when we think of the risen Christ, all that he did for us and all that he offers now to those who believe in him.

This does not mean a Christian believes that life will be without difficulties, as was said in the book of Acts (ch 14, v 22): “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God”.
The past few weeks have been disturbing, watching the news about the war in Iran, the ongoing war in Europe and other difficulties still in the Middle East. We may all be praying for peace and wondering when these wars will end.

We should remember that Christ’s journey here on earth was not free from trials and tribulations either. His grace will support us all in our journeys through life. The key to it is to: “Have faith in God” (Mark ch 11, v 22). With faith we can do anything.

At this time there are many opportunities to gather with other Christians to show our faith. We can join in with the services in Holy Week. We can show our faith to people in our local community by joining our Good Friday walk of witness, where we walk with other sisters and brothers in Christ through Flixton. A little faith is enough to save us and uniting with other people of faith can uplift and inspire us.

After the hectic time of Holy Week and Easter, we can then continue to journey together in faith at all our regular services, prayer gatherings and house groups.

Let us all continue to march together along the road of faith. Faith is the oil that enables the wheels of our lives to move forward. So let us keep moving forward in faith. As St Paul says in 2 Corinthians ch 5 v7, “We walk by faith and not by sight”.

Best wishes and blessings,

Reverend Debra

ECO TIP
There is 1.3 billion tonnes of food wasted every year. To avoid waste: (1) Think before you buy
(2) Always look for ways of re-using leftover food or ways of preserving or freezing items.

THANK YOU!
A big thank you to everyone who came to our Messy Church for Easter. We had a big attendance, with over 30 people more than last Easter, and many were new families. Praise God.

HOLY WEEK AT ST. JOHN'S
Thursday 2nd April is Maundy Thursday. We remember when Jesus shared his final meal with his disciples before his crucifixion: we can join together at 10.30am in the Chapel for a service of Holy Communion.

On Good Friday (3rd April) at 1pm we gather at St John’s with our sisters and brothers from Flixton Fellowship and St Michael’s church and walk together to The Ark for a short act of worship, then on to St Michael’s where people are welcome to stay for the Last Hour by the Cross. Do join us if you can, even for part of the walk, so we can show the people of Flixton that there is a local Christian presence.

Then at 7.30pm join us at St John’s for “Were you there?” a service of readings, music, videos and prayers for this day – thinking of some of the people who played a part in Jesus' arrest, trial and crucifixion and what it means to us today.

Sunday 5th April is Easter Day: we will celebrate the miracle of the resurrection together at our Family Communion service at 10.30am.

APCM ON 19TH APRIL
On Sunday 19th April, at 12.15pm, we have the Annual Church Meeting. Everyone is welcome to stay on after the service at church to attend and those on the Electoral Roll can vote.

GIVING TO GOD'S WORK
Have you reviewed what you give to God’s work, including here at St John’s, recently? Many of us see our incomes increase (even if not by very much!) from year to year, but it’s a fact that many regular donations to our church have not changed for a while.

We have long encouraged the practice of tithing which means giving a regular and consistent percentage of your actual income – and each year, on the same principle, we give 10 per cent of our donation income to other Christian work. Do ask about our “Planned Giving” scheme and how to take advantage of Gift Aid if you don’t know about them already.

JOIN A HOUSE GROUP
House groups are a marvellous way to meet informally with other Christians to explore the Bible. We have three groups: an afternoon one in the church led by Rev Debra and two evening groups run by Rev Rodney Green and Rev Graham Smallman at domestic addresses. They will re-start after the Easter break, Rev Rodney’s on 9th April and the two other groups on 16th April. Why not try one if you haven’t before?

Please note ...
Thursday Holy Communion services are to be held at St. John’s at 10.30am on 2nd, 16th and 30th April and at St Michael’s Flixton at 10.15am on 9th and 23rd April.

Our Coffee, Tea and Chat social afternoon is on Tuesday 7th April – from 2pm to 3.30pm in church. Come, and bring your friends.

Greenfield Church in Urmston is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its formation as a joint Baptist-Congregational congregation this year. On Saturday 18th April the church will be open from 1.30pm for a display of historical records, and at 2.30pm there’s a re-enactment of “Seasons Greetings”, a presentation they first did in the 1970s.

Urmston Choral Society’s spring concert at St John’s is on Saturday 25th April, from 2.30pm. Tickets priced £10 (£2 for students or children) are available from Maxine Summers, text 07961 121 637 (or tel. 0161 748 0903). Please book in advance if possible, although you can also pay at the door.

Canon Kate Burgess of St Matthew’s Church, Stretford, has announced her retirement on May 12th this year. And the Bishop of Manchester, David Walker, has announced he will retire in spring 2027 when he is 70.