AFTER being welcomed into office last year, the Bishop of Bolton has had a lot to contend with.

The Rt Rev Mark Ashcroft was consecrated into his new role in October and held his first service the following month.

Now, nearly one year into the role, the head of the town's Church of England contingent is looking back on what has been a very busy — and often fraught — few months in office.

He praised Bolton people their for reaction to the Manchester Arena bomb attack on May 22.

He said: "I think after the arena one of the things amazing things for me was that people were very angry at first, and it had nothing to do with religion or race, but the fact those who suffered were children and young people. In the aftermath there was a lot of support and a determination to not let it divide us and be overtaken by hate.

"Bolton, like lots of towns and cities that were affected, was amazing in making sure the response was healthy and not divisive.

"One of my most moving visits was to the Royal Bolton Hospital where I spent a couple of hours with the chaplain. They told me about what the nurses, doctors and staff had to deal with, not only the injured, but distressed families, and they were extremely resilient.

"At the time the bomb went off I was doing a walk of the area and a lot of people were upset and concerned, including people from different backgrounds who felt very vulnerable.

"That was interesting because the combination of the arena attack and Brexit made those who had come into the country, even though they may have lived here many years, feel they were not welcome or safe."

The 62-year-old grandfather-of-three officially started duties in December and not only oversees Bolton, but also the areas in and around Bury, Rossendale, Leigh and Salford.

Since then he has been out and about, meeting not only the churches and schools, but community organisations, various religious leaders and local authority leaders.

Bishop Mark, who previously lived in Kenya for 10 years, is keen to show how the church can help and support all aspects of the community.

From meetings with Urban Outreach and women's neonatal groups to small Church of England groups to Hindu temples, he is proud of the cohesion and support shown in the community

This includes work helping the homeless.

Bishop Mark explains: "The church has a number of things in terms of care for the homeless, including providing a safe space, hot food and a shower and sign-posting people to help.

"Homelessness often comes from loss of benefits, financial difficulties, dependency on drugs or alcohol or often a breakdown of family relationships. We want to help people work through it.

"As the local authorities become more and more stretched, churches can can work in partnership with agencies to offer help."

The diocese is also looking to the future of not just improving community cohesion but also other goals, including making care of the environment part of the church's mission, helping people discover their 'gifts' and skills which can help them in life and being there for people living in areas of deprivation.

Bishop Mark added: "Bolton is a big, big place and I have been trying to get to every part of it to meet and get to know more people.

"The town has been struggling but I think it is on an upwards path and there are lots of things going on in terms of developments. It is in a transition stage and while many old things have gone and new identity is being formed.

"Greater Manchester is really multi-cultural and that has its different challenges.

"The church can break down the barriers of language, ethnicity, culture and back ground."