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Bishop has a bellyful of fun

Katherine Vine
16/ 5/2008

IT’S not a sight you see every day – a bishop showing off his bellydancing skills.

But The Bishop of Manchester was game for a laugh when he met the bellydancers of Flixton.

The Rt Rev Nigel McCulloch was the guest of honour at a This is Flixton event at St John’s Church on Irlam Road on Tuesday, May 13, where he met representatives from over 20 different community and voluntary groups from the area.

He was there as part of his ‘Run the Race’ programme, in which he is meeting people throughout his diocese and getting to know Manchester’s communities.

Member of different Christian churches came together to support the event, and the Sandstorm belly dance troupe is just one local organisation that uses St John’s Church hall for its members’ energetic weekly routines.

The vicar of St John’s, the Rev Keith Massey, said: "We thought this would be a tremendous opportunity to encourage people and organisations here to put themselves on show, not just for the Bishop but for everyone in the area."

Other local groups that took part included Woodsend Community Group, The Haven Youth Group, Davyhulme Quilters, Face2Face puppet theatre, and the Urmston and District Local History Society.

There were performances from school children at Acre Hall Primary School, a rock band from Wellacre College, Trafford Senior Youth Choir and last but by no means least the Sandstorm bellydancers, who even got the Bishop up on stage to join in the fun.

Every person in Flixton was invited, and people were dropping in throughout the day, from 2pm to 8.30pm to enjoy the performances.

At 7.30pm there was a short Songs of Praise style service led by the Bishop.