Manchester Walking ‘The Way’ Trinity Ancoats: 3

Walk Start Point: Trinity Methodist Church Ancoats, Ridgeway Street, Ancoats. M40 7FZ.

Distance: 2-3 miles approx.

Time: 1 hour 30 mins approx

Terrain: The terrain is easy but sensible footwear for walking along the towpath is recommended.

There are cobbles and uneven paths at some point along the Canal. There are also a couple of busy roads to cross.

Start point between Church front door and tree on green space. Turn Left onto Butler Street and walk past the shop on the left and take the next left into Woodward Street.

Follow the road down to the bottom and then turn right onto to the crossing on Old Mill Street/Bradford Road  (opposite Tony’s Chip shop) and cross over. Just past the building on your right by the odd looking houses onto New Union Street becoming Red Hill Street. Passdown between the mills (on right) and Canal (on left) Continue along until you come to Great Ancoats Street.

Turn right onto Great Ancoats street and crossover opposite Gran T’s Coffee shop and go down Newton street (to the left of the coffee shop)

Continue down until you get to Hilton Street then go right along Hilton Street until you come to Stevenson Square. (Pedestrian area) No. 8 Stevenson Square

REFLECTION POINT 1 Stevenson Square                                                                          

  • Take a look around What did you notice?
  • As you stand in this place think about the history as well as the modern vibe.
  • Take a look at the artwork think about what it is saying.
  • It is hard to see with only one eye. Take one of your hands and place it over one of your eyes like the street art.
  • Now look again with both eyes. How is it different?
  • Think about how your vision was with only one eye able to see.
  • Sometimes in life we are blinded by life, circumstances or tradition that cloud our vision of what life actually is like or can be.
  • Think about What your vision is for the future and what blindfold needs removing.
  • Perhaps you might be thankful for those things that enable you to see life clearly.

JOURNEY ONWARDS

Continue along Hilton Street with the Street art behind you.

Cross over Oldham Street past the Big multistory car park (on left) towards Oak Street.

Turn right up Oak street up to the Manchester Craft and design centre. If open go through the centre and take notice of all the independent businesses. Go out through the door turn left and then right onto Copperas Street. (If closed go to the left along Copperas Street)

Continue to High Street where you will see the old Fish Market.

Reflection Point 2 Old Fish Market                                                                            

  • Take a look around what do you notice?
  • Think about how busy this place would have been.
  • Think about where the fish came from and how it got here
  • Think about how many people were fed from this place either physically or gaining an income to feed families.
  • Think about the places you get fed either physically, emotionally or spiritually.
  • There were a few occasions where fish were prominent in the life of Jesus. Can you think of any?
  • If you thought about the feeding of the 5 thousand where a few fish and a couple of loaves were used to feed thousands. What do you think about this?
  • Think about the difference that those few things (fish and bread) made to the lives of those who received them.
  • Think about what small thing you can offer that will make a big difference in transforming lives.
  • Perhaps we might like to be thankful for the small things we are given.

JOURNEY ONWARDS

Continue onwards down High Street and then turn left into Thomas Street. (Mural on left) Then take 1st right into Back Thomas Street (Murals on right).

Turn left onto Back Turner Street and the right into Kelvin Street and then onto Turner Street go across and inbetween the car park ( on the left) and the Abel Heywood Pub (on the right).

You will then come out on Church Street and go left stop at the junction of Dale Street and Tib Street.

 Reflection Point 3   Tree of life

                                         

  • Take a look around what do you notice?
  • What strikes you about this place?
  • Notice the planters on your left and then notice the tree on the building opposite.
  • Think about what greenery and trees provide in an urban context.
  • The building is Afflecks which used to be a department store and now has all kinds of independent businesses within it.
  • The building which is old has been transformed inside and out and now brings a sense of culture to an old space. What spaces can you think of that have enabled a creative cultural change to take place.
  • What creative cultural things enable you to feel good, inspire you or give you a sense of peace?
  • Perhaps you might like to be thankful for those cultural things that are life giving to you.

JOURNEY ONWARDS 

Continue on to Dale Street and cross over Newton Street and continue on Dale Street.

When you come to a large archway on the left go through it into the car park.

Walk down the middle of the car park and on the right you will see a modern bridge going over the canal. Go over the bridge and stop the other side.

REFLECTION POINT 4 Bridge                                                                        

  • Be still for a few moments, take a look around- WHAT DO YOU NOTICE?
  • Think about what you felt like walking over the bridge.
  • Did you think nothing of it or were you aware of crossing it?
  • Think for a moment about bridges. Think of all the different kinds of bridges there are.
  • Think about what bridges do.
  • Bridges help us to cross from one side of some sort of divide or obstacle to the other side.
  • Think about what happens if a bridge is no longer there or no longer in use.
  • Think about bridges giving access and a safe crossing place.
  • It is often said that Jesus is the bridge to God, what do you think about this.
  • Think about people who have helped you to navigate a difficult time and perhaps been a kind of bridge for you.
  • Perhaps you might like to be thankful for those who help you go through life offering a safe journey.

JOURNEY ONWARDS

 Continue to follow the Rochdale Canal all the way back up to Butler street. Come off the canal at Danesdale Drive go right into Redcliffe Drive, go left onto Woodward Street and then go right onto Butler street and back to Trinity Methodist Church, Ancoats.