About the ParishRev. Andrew Dawson says: St Thomas’s is the Church of England Church serving the Coppice neighbourhood of Oldham. The population of the ‘parish’ (the area which the C of E has made St Thomas’s responsible for) is 5802 (2001 Census). We are not a large Church community, with an average of 55 people worshipping each week. We include people of most age groups and a minority of Christian South Asians. 63% of the parish population are Muslims with 5% Hindus or Jewish. Most Church members either live in the parish or not far away. We are affiliated to the Greater Manchester ‘Refugees Welcome Here’ scheme. The preaching and ministry is based on the Bible as interpreted by the Church. In considering current issues, we seek to use our minds but we are also willing to be challenged by the Bible. Our Church Council has agreed the following priorities: 1. Sharing our faith out of our love for people and because we need new members. 2. Worship, including Sunday School, Healing, Prayer and Music. 3. Witness to Asians through individual friendships and through shared work with the community. It is essential to relate to one another, to be more than polite neighbours. 4. Presence, that is letting people know that C of E Christians live and/or worship in Coppice. 5. Working with St Paul’s, Hathershaw, a neighbouring parish, as we have been requested by the Diocese. St Paul's parish is twice the size of St Thomas' and is the neighbourhood on the other side of Chamber Road, including most of Hathershaw. Note that the legal name of St Thomas’s as serving Werneth is confusing in that the parish area consists of most of the neighbourhood of Coppice together with a triangle going into the town centre. But Werneth, as understood locally, consists not only of Coppice but also of Freehold which is on the north west side of Manchester Road. St Thomas' parish is bounded by Manchester Road, Manchester Street, George Street, King Street, Ashton Road, Chamber Road and Grange Avenue. However, people are free to worship in whichever church they choose wherever they live! Andrew Dawson, Priest – in – Charge 3 Regency Close Oldham OL8 1SS Tel 0161 678 8926
Map of the Parish Boundary
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