“On Sunday 4th August we were pleased to welcome an “old boy” to lead our worship.
Revd Stephen Thornton, as he is now known, was born in Idle and was a regular attendee at Upper Chapel. During this time, he had a calling to become a Minister, and this came to fruition. He recently celebrated 60 years of service in the United Reformed Church and whilst having ‘retired’ from being a Minister at Fleet in Hampshire, regularly leads services around the south coast area. Stephen was instrumental in writing the URC’s Children’s Charter and the setting up of the Windermere Centre, a residential training centre and retreat. Stephen has kept in touch over the years and in recent years we have been receiving regular phone calls enquiring how the new church was coming on in the planning and construction stages, then as to how it is progressing and growing since we opened. Having been part of the 3rd and 4th Upper Chapels, Stephen was very keen to come to preach and meet the people of the 5th Upper Chapel.” – Susan Carter, Elder at Idle (Upper Chapel) URC