THE Bishop of Manchester will be visiting Bolton during Holy Week.

The Rt Rev David Walker will be visiting around the parish and taking part in special services at Bolton Parish Church.

It will be the first time Dr Walker has spent Holy Week, the week before Easter, in Bolton.

Dr Walker said: "Holy Week and Easter are a very special time, when Christians reaffirm our assurance that death is no more the end for us than it was for Jesus.

"I'm grateful to the people of Bolton Parish for their kind invitation to me to spend it with them.

"We shall follow Jesus on his way to the cross, then travel on to celebrate the joy of his rising from the dead."

Throughout the week leading up to Easter Sunday, April 1, Dr Walker will be visiting schools and getting to know the 'heart of the parish' said Cllr John Walsh.

Cllr Walsh, church warden for Bolton Parish Church, said: "I will be taking him to meet the chaplaincy team and show him round the town centre, which is the heart of the parish.

"He will also be visiting some of our schools, Bishop Bridgeman and Bolton Parish Church School — showing him the life of the parish.

"He normally visits a different parish each Holy Week to see what's going on and we can give him a feel for the life of Bolton.

"We're delighted to be showing him round to see the life of the church and the parish."

Dr Walker will join the Palm Sunday service at the parish church on March 25, the service begins at 10.15am in the parish hall with the blessing of Palm Crosses before people make their way to church for the Communion Service.

The bishop will also attend Choral Evensong on Palm Sunday at 6.30pm, which includes a selection of music for Passiontide.

On Maundy Thursday the service is Choral Eucharist starting at 7.30pm, followed by silent vigil until 10pm.

On Good Friday the 11am morning service is organised by Christians Together in Bolton Town Centre, which Bolton Parish Church is part of. Afterwards Dr Walker will lead an outdoor act of witness in Victoria Square, when church members will distribute Hot Cross Buns.

The Hour at the Cross from 2pm is a time of reflection.

An Easter Vigil at 8pm on Saturday evening sees the church at first in darkness until the new Easter Candle is lit and brought in to fill the church with brightness.

The week will culminate with Dr Walker preaching at the Easter Parish Communion service on Sunday, beginning at 10.30am.