Worship at St Nicholas

All are welcome at St Nicholas – be they Christians of any denomination or none, followers of other faiths, or the simply curious. All Communicant Christians are welcomed to receive Holy Communion and others are invited, if they so wish, to come to the altar for blessing. We welcome all as they make their life’s pilgrimage.

St Nicholas is an inclusive community, celebrating the ministry of both men and women, while worshipping firmly in the tradition of Catholic revival in the Church of England that began in the 19th century.

Fr Simon at the altar The main act of worship is the Sunday Eucharist or Parish Mass at 10.30 am at which we all gather to praise the Lord in words and music, to receive his help in Word and Sacrament and to meet each other. We aim to combine "treasures old and treasures new" in our church life.

We use the contemporary English services from Common Worship, except at Sunday Evening Prayer, when we use the 1662 Book of Common Prayer.

Our Vicar, Fr Simon Brandes, or our Curate, Revd Ann Alexander, preside at most Eucharistic services. Lay involvement in leading worship is very important to us and so members of the congregation read the lessons, lead intercessions, assist at the Communion and so on; Evening Prayer on Sunday is often lay led. Above all, our worship is a collective act of the whole body of Christ.

Fr Simon celebrated the 25th anniversary of his ordination as a priest in July 2011. A thanksgiving Mass, with music by Vierne and a specially composed anthem by Martin Bussey, was followed by a party in the vicarage garden. Former parishioners from Bolton and Saddleworth joined many of the congregation of St Nicholas' together with family, friends and colleagues past and present for a great celebration. Click here to see some photos.