Longshoot Church of Christ, Wigan

24/06/2026

“Well done, good and faithful servant…” (Matthew 25:23)

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain…”
Revelation 21:4

It is with great sadness that we announce the recent passing of our dear brother in Christ, Stan Whitton.

Stan was a much-loved and faithful member of Longshoot Church of Christ for many years. His quiet dedication, unwavering faith and servant heart touched countless lives.

For many, Stan was the first friendly face they would see each Sunday, always ready with a warm smile and a welcoming handshake. Behind the scenes he faithfully served the church in many roles, including many years as Treasurer, giving generously of his time and gifts.

Together with his beloved wife Margaret, Stan lovingly cared for our church building and faithfully organised the church coffee mornings, bringing together members from Churches of Christ across Wigan. Through these gatherings they not only created a place of friendship and fellowship, but also raised thousands of pounds to support those in need.

Stan’s life was a wonderful example of Christian faith in action. He will be deeply missed by our church family and by so many throughout the community.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Margaret, all of Stan’s family and everyone who knew and loved him.

Funeral Arrangements

🕊️ Tuesday 30th June
📍 Longshoot Church of Christ
⏰ Service at 12:30pm

The service will be followed by a committal at Wigan Crematorium.

Refreshments will be served back at the church afterwards, where everyone is welcome to gather, share memories and give thanks for Stan’s life.

“Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord… they will rest from their labour, for their deeds will follow them.” – Revelation 14:13

22/12/2025

Everyone at Longshoot hopes that all our members, friends and followers have a peaceful Christmas and New Year.
May you feel the presence of Jesus.

There are a lot of debates surrounding when exactly Christ was born. Was it December? Spring? During a census? In the cooler months?

Scholars point to shepherds in the fields,
Roman records, Jewish calendars,
and astronomical theories.

The discussions are thoughtful
and sometimes even heated.
I somehow feel bad that of all things,
the birth of the epitome of love itself,
is sometimes causing division
and heated arguments.

But Scripture itself never tells us the date.

And that silence feels intentional.

The Gospels are remarkably detailed
when it comes to why Jesus was born,
but noticeably quiet about when.

Luke gives us names, places, rulers,
family lines, and social conditions.

Matthew traces genealogy and fulfillment.

John skips the manger entirely
and goes straight to meaning
“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”

So I think, the Bible doesn’t invite us
to mark a birthday on a calendar.
It invites us to behold a Savior.

In the ancient world, birth dates
were usually reserved for kings,
emperors, and the powerful,
often celebrated to exalt their status.

But Jesus does not enter history demanding celebration.
He enters quietly. Vulnerable. Dependent.
Laid not in a palace, but in a feeding trough.
Not announced to kings first, but to shepherds.

That alone tells us something important about His mission.

We may not know exactly WHEN He was born,
but we are absolutely certain WHY He was born.

Jesus Christ was not born to give us a holiday.
He was born to give us salvation.

The angel’s words to Joseph
make this unmistakably clear,
“You shall call his name Jesus,
for he will save his people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:21

HE CAME TO SAVE.

This shifts the question, doesn’t it?

If the purpose of Christ’s coming
was rescue, redemption, and reconciliation with God,
do we really have to wait for a specific date to celebrate Him?

Do we need the correct month, the right season,
or historical certainty before we respond with worship?

The early Christians didn’t gather around a calendar,
they gathered around a confession,
that Jesus is Lord.

They remembered His coming not once a year,
but every time they broke bread,
shared the gospel, endured suffering,
and lived in hope.

Celebrating Christ is not about defending a date.
It is about declaring a truth of the Gospel.

That God stepped into human history.
That eternity entered time.
That light came into darkness,
not symbolically, but personally.

So whether it’s December, April,
or an ordinary weekday,
Christ is still worthy of celebration.

His incarnation is not confined to a season.
His saving work is not limited to a holiday.

Because the question that ultimately matters is not,
“When was He born?”
But, “What has His coming done to us?”

And the answer remains the same,
every day of the year,
HE WAS BORN TO SAVE US,
and He's deserving of being celebrated,
24/7, all year round.

07/12/2025

🎄✨ This Festive Season at Longshoot Church of Christ! ✨🎄

We’d love for you to join us for our special services and celebrations in December:

📅 Sunday 14th December
🕚 11AM – Family Service
🕛 12PM – Lunch, games and the chance to meet Santa! 🎅

📅 Sunday 21st December
🕚 11AM – Morning Service
🕕 6PM – Annual Carol Service 🎶

There’s something for all ages, and everyone is welcome.
Bring family, friends, neighbours – and come celebrate this wonderful season with us! ❤️💚

📍 Longshoot Close, Scholes, Wigan, WN1 3NH

We look forward to celebrating Jesus together! 🎁⭐

07/12/2025

A huge well-done to our amazing young people at Longshoot Church of Christ! 👏💛

Through car washing, a fun tombola, a movie afternoon and a quiz for the adults, they helped us raise an incredible £600 for Children in Need!

Thank you so much to everyone who donated, supported, and joined in. Your generosity has made a real difference. 🙏

We’re proud of our young helpers for their hard work and enthusiasm, what a brilliant effort! 🌟

15/11/2025

CHILDREN IN NEED 2025

We are planning a special service for Sunday 23rd November.
Our youngsters are once again supporting Children in Need and would appreciate any support.
We will be having our normal worship at 11am and there are other things to get involved in:

- Car Wash 🧽 - if your car needs a quick clean, let us know and the youngsters will add you to their list (limited slots available)

- Hot Pot and Pizza 🍕 - Donate and join us for some food after the service.

- Entertainment - Quiz (adults) and Movie (kids) for a nominal donation.

Hope to see lots of people supporting a very worthy cause!

06/11/2024

Please support our upcoming charity event organised by our wonderful young people! All the details are in the photos below. We encourage you to share these details with friends and family and look forward to seeing as many people as possible to support both our young people and a wonderful cause.

13/12/2023

🎄 Christmas at Longshoot 🎄

List of events coming up (All December):

Sun 17th - 11am - Family Service followed by Fellowship lunch and 🎅 Kids Christmas party🎅

Weds 20th - Christmas Coffee Morning ☕️

Thurs 21st - 7.00pm - Carol Service 🎶 🎄

Sun 24th - Christmas Service 🎅🎄 ⛪️

We would love to welcome everyone to all of the above events and hope to see as many people as possible over the festive period.

Please share 🙏🏼

05/11/2023

Please support our upcoming charity event organised by our wonderful young people! All the details are below in the photos. We encourage you to share these details with friends and family and look forward to seeing as many people as possible and support our young people.

21/12/2022

Annual Christmas Carol Service is tomorrow evening at 7pm - Thursday 22nd December.

Come along and support our young people who are prepared to to take you on a Christmas journey.

Look forward to seeing as many people as possible.