Contents:
- Editor's welcome
- Paul Waugh: From Rochdale to Westminster
- Rachel Winnard: One in Two Million
- Rochdale Sixth Form College wins at prestigious Further Education awards
- Rev Mark Coleman »
- Baillie Street Quarter
- Touchstones reopens with new exhibitions
- Greater Manchester Fire Service Museum
- Highlights of a Mayoral Year
- Fancy dress posties raise £1,700 for MIND
- John Swinden’s Captain Tom 100 challenge
- Littleborough’s Tackling Minds to become first organisation to work with NHS in prescribing angling
- Keith Hicks retires after 33 years of service at RAFC
- Bid for local digital radio signal
- Carpet Creations celebrates 25 years in business
- Help fill Springhill’s gardens with sunflowers in memory of your loved ones
- Local author reminisces about Rochdale high streets in the 80s and 90s in new book
- After the storm, the healthy hazy days of summer
- Rochdale Heartbeat honoured with Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service
- Ian Jenkins: Forty Years of Making Music
- Hairdressing Trend - Babylights
- Lasting Power of Attorney
- Cupcakes recipe
- Brown’s Cakes celebrates 10 years
- Beauty Feature: Coming back strong after lockdown
- Take a walk at Ealees
Summer 2021Rev Mark Coleman
Mark Coleman is far from your conventional vicar. From connecting people from different faiths and backgrounds, to helping asylum seekers and being arrested for his taking a stand against climate change with the Extinction Rebellion protests, Mark bares all to Michelle Kight.
Mark grew up in Liverpool, studying law at university before he realised a legal career wasn’t the path he wanted to take in life. He has been married to Councillor Wendy Cocks since 1985, and they have two sons.
After feeling the ‘call of faith’, he retrained as a vicar, eventually ending up, in September 2014, as Vicar of St Mary in the Baum and St Chad’s parish churches in the centre of Rochdale.
Somewhat surprisingly, Mark tells us he’s 'not keen on organised religion'.
“I believe in a faith lived out in the real world,” he explains. “Being generous, loving and welcoming to all, especially any outsiders. For me it’s about trying to be the best Christian I can be. We can learn so much from others of different faiths. I have been so enriched coming to Rochdale and getting to know Muslim brothers and sisters.
“It was a big change after living in Liverpool, but when I began to meet people, I started to feel very much at home.
“There is a great willingness to work together, and I soon learned I couldn’t do much on my own.
"So much can be achieved with that Rochdale ‘can do’ spirit and pride in our place. I have had wonderful conversations with faith leaders, exploring all sorts of issues, many of which we probably disagree about. It would have been absurd to be vicar where most of the parish are not practicing Christians without building church-mosque partnerships.”
Speaking about his work with other faiths, perhaps one of the most touching moments – and true examples of solidarity between humans – came following the horrific terror attacks on a mosque in New Zealand in 2019 Not only did the wardens of Rochdale Parish Church present a bouquet of flowers to Neeli Mosque, but representatives from many churches stood shoulder-to-shoulder in a peaceful vigil alongside their Muslim brothers.
Mark’s voluntary work has also seen the launch of RADAR – Rochdale Action with Destitute Asylum Seekers and Refugees, set up in May 2019 by the now-retired reverend and members of various church communities in Rochdale.
In the process of applying for permission to remain, a small number of asylum seekers end up with no money and no housing, and survive by sofa surfing or end up street homeless. Mark says: “When we saw this need we realised that something had to be done. We knew Rochdale’s hospitality was second to none and this was proved by the loan of a house in which we have housed three men. Lockdown has been hard for them, but we are so glad to have been able to keep them safe and warm."
In 2019, Mark turned activist, and was arrested for the first time in his life after partaking in an Extinction Rebellion protest in London, on 7 October, alongside two other clergy.
“I’d been involved in environmental campaigns for over 10 years as a Christian priest. Like many, I have signed petitions, gone to events in London and seen my MPs. In that time, carbon emissions have increased, and we are now in the midst of a climate emergency and the sixth mass extinction.”
Becoming increasingly concerned about the climate crisis, Mark began to feel his actions were not enough, and felt the need to do something bigger – and more impactful. After observing the April 2019 protests in London, the former Reverend decided to take part in the next demonstration, and undertook training with Christian Climate Action.
“It was a wonderful experience. The police were kind to me and I met many fantastic people who care about the planet. It was so moving to meet older and younger people, and being part of a community seeking a future for all.
“We can all respond; we’re all in this together and we can all make a change. Get involved, you don’t have to get arrested,” he wryly chuckles. Since his retirement, Mark has remained involved with RADAR and Extinction Rebellion, despite being diagnosed with long-term illness.
“When it comes to disability, I’m never sure when to talk about it, however I want people to know the real me. Retirement is a time to be truthful. When I tell people I have Parkinson’s, many can relate to that as we all have our frailties. I’m very blessed that I can still function, but it does bring limitations.”