Altrincham Festival Saturday 2 July 2011
Our theme is ‘LET’S BE FRIENDS’:
It was alovely sunny day for the festival this year and our entry was excellent with lots of happy smiling faces singing along with “You’ve Got a Friend”
We won 5 prizes in all :-
• Winners Most Original entry
• Winners best Voluntary entry
Then 3 highly recommended
• Best Fancy Dress – it must have been the sunflowers!
• Most colourful
• Supreme entry!
Here are the first photos of our float :-
About 40 people from Altrincham Interfaith Group gathered outside All Saints Friary on Tuesday 21st June. We were greeted by Father Brendan Blundell who showed us round and talked to us about this extraordinarily beautiful church. It had been built at a cost of £25,000 by the de Trafford family in 1865, who acquired the services of the celebrated architect E W Pugin and, since 1985, three quarters of a million has been spent on partial restoration. Pugin displayed his talent in the design of the Sanctuary, which was built using only the best materials. We were astonished by its gilded ceiling depicting an orchestra of angels, as well as the angels on the newly restored High Altar. A modern touch was given by the stunning rose window in the west wall with its emerald, blue, yellow and orange glass. There was a wonderful sense of light and of peace. After our tour we were given refreshments and there was a chance to socialise and meets old friends and new.
The High Altar
We are most grateful to Father Brendan for giving us an opportunity to visit this beautiful place and we wish him well with the ongoing restoration.
Grand Quiz 2011
Over 70 people attended this enjoyable event on 26th May at South Manchester Synagogue. We are hoping to hold another the Quiz Night in 2012.
Title: Visit to Mosque
Location: Zakariyya Mosque, Peace Street, Bolton, BL3 5LJ
Link out: Click here
Zakariyya Mosque
Description: Zakariyya Jame Masjid is the central mosque of Bolton.It is the central mosque in Bolton, playing an important role in uniting and serving all Muslims in the town. It holds a capacity of housing up to 3,000 worshippers and acts as a contact point for many groups, agencies and local authorities on various issues in the borough.
About 50 members of Altrincham Interfaith Group had the privilege and pleasure of visiting the Zakariyya Mosque in Bolton on 31st March, for what proved to be a most interesting evening. We were given a tour around the elegant, domed building with its prayer rooms, one of which could accommodate around 2000 worshippers and were impressed by all the facilities which included a library, IT room with numerous computer terminals, ritual washing room and also a mortuary to expedite speedy burial of the dead according to Muslim practice. We were invited to enter one of the prayer rooms in time for the sunset (or maghrib) prayer – about 200 men lined shoulder-to-shoulder to pray in traditional fashion in four rows of about 50 people facing in the direction of Makkah and led in prayer by the Imam, who also talked to us about the Mosque, Islam and answered any questions that we had, most openly and frankly. We were made to feel most welcome and after the tour were given a splendid meal of delicious curries,
samosas and kebabs. These interfaith events where we share each others experiences and traditions of worship are vitally important in breaking down barriers of suspicion and fear that may exist, as well as proving to be of great interest in themselves, and in this way Altrincham Interfaith Group is helping to promote harmony and understanding between all peoples.
Date: 2011-03-31