THERE are lots of lovely churches scattered around Bolton serving their communities with activities, children's groups and sermons.

Here are a few that were recommended to us.

Barrow Bridge Mission, Barrow Bridge Road, Barrow Bridge

THIS homely church is accessed via a bridge over Dean Brook in Barrow Bridge village.

The Barrow Bridge Mission is an offshoot of the parish of St Peter’s Halliwell, it sits in Barrow Bridge Road.

It hosts a small congregation with a mixture of ages and leads them with a relaxed and intimate style of worship.

It offers a variety of youth groups for ages three and up.

St Peter's, Church Road, Halliwell

SUPPOSEDLY the church with the largest congregation in Greater Manchester, the parish of St Peter’s Halliwell is actually a group of churches.

These include St Peter’s itself in Church Road, Halliwell and Barrow Bridge (above).

St Peter’s is a grade II listed building built in 1840.

It holds three services a week, the times of which rotate during the month and serves around 400 people each Sunday.

Victoria Hall Methodist Church, Knowsley Street, Bolton

OPENED 118 years ago the Victoria Hall Methodist Church is hidden in plain sight in Knowsley Street.

It is run by the Friends of Victoria Hall who give up their time to run and promote it as well as curating cultural and historical exhibitions.

It was opened in 1900 in the style of a music hall/theatre and can seat more than 1,200 people, though the mission in Bolton dates to 1700.

The church puts its faith into action with groups for refugees, concerts, a cafe and a French-speaking sister church which meets on a Sunday afternoon.

Two services are held on a Sunday, one at 10.30am and another at 6.30pm.

This weekend Bolton Symphony Orchestra is performing in the church. It will be a Scandinavian Scenes concert music by Grieg and Sibelius.

It will be held on Sunday at 7.30pm and tickets cost £12.

St Paul's, Halliwell Road, Halliwell

St Paul's Parish Church, Halliwell, Bolton.Pictures by Phil Taylor St Paul's Parish Church, Halliwell, Bolton.Pictures by Phil Taylor

ST PAUL’S Parish Church in Halliwell Road boasts a small but friendly congregation.

It holds a contemporary all-age service on the first Sunday of every month.

A Sunday school is also run from the church.

It’s parish hall dates back to 1856, is used by groups including Halliwell Befriending Service, Halliwell Action for Work Alongside Youth and Bolton School of Dance and Drama.

The Bridge Church, Bradford Street, Bolton

THE Bridge Church (formerly known as Bolton Pentecostal) is a modern new build, including a coffee shop which opened recently.

There are lots of activities for all ages and lots of work in the community carried out from the church in Bradford Street which was formed in 1925.

One of the congregation even built a modern stained-glass window for the coffee shop.

Pictures courtesy of Phil Taylor.

-We want to hear what your favourite dessert shops are from round the borough. Email your favourites to newsdesk@theboltonnews.co.uk