In the summer of 2023 we did a trip for a group of ladies from Burnley.  The contact came through a retired vicar, Jenny, who lives and worships in Barnoldswick but helps with Fun Church at St Matthew’s in Burnley.  The ladies enjoyed the trip but said it would have been great to bring their children.  The result was that we offered to take Ten Thousand Reasons to Burnley.

So with the help of Jenny and Kat the Curate at St Matthew’s we organised a day of boat trips based at Finsley Gate Wharf in Burnley.  We did five trips down the straight mile in the day and shared with about forty adults and children.  The wharf were really helpful and gave the children free use of the bouncy castle while they waited for their turn.  It was a great day. We cruised there and back with friends from our Marina who were a great help to us.  To make use of our time we also did a longer trip the following day for people from a Church in Accrington.  

After the success of this one day event people asked if would come again and bring some friends from Canal Ministries.  Churches Together in Burnley invited us to a meeting and the result was a week of outreach from 4th to 10th of August this year (2025).  It will be based at Finsley Gate Wharf which has room for boats to moor. 

So we are busy planning a week of activities. Breaches not withstanding we hope to have a small team to reach out to the people of Burnley with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus. Burnley is not a wealthy area and people come from very diverse cultural and religious backgrounds.  So this is a wonderful opportunity to help the Churches of Burnley in their calling to introduce people from every language, tribe and nation to the saviour of the world and show them his love.

Watch this space for more details as and when they arrive.😀

Paul and Sue