Bishop and councillor on a mission to help Wigan vulnerable people during lockdown

Bishop Steven Evans on a delivery with his family and a church volunteer

Deliveries of food have been made to those who cannot get out to the shops or are shielding and Coun Evans has also been helping to visit those who are vulnerable but cannot be contacted by telephone to make sure they are OK.

His church has also been drawing up lists of those who are lonely or in need of support and creating a rota of phone volunteers to ring those who need to speak to someone.

Bishop Steven said: “That has had a tremendous impact.

“We couldn’t have envisaged our ministry growing during this time, but we’ve had so many positive comments from people saying it is making a huge difference knowing someone is at the end of the phone and prepared to be there for them, answering questions and helping.

“I’m hoping that the more people hear about things like this the more others will want to get involved.”

The church is also continuing as much of its usual work, including providing a chaplaincy service to residents in hospital, as it can over the phone.

The Living Faith Church’s Orrell base is also receiving donations of food which was delivered to a local school for distribution in the community.

The Living Faith Church is also part of The International Christian Church Network (TICCN) and Bishop Steven has been supporting other churches and ministers in the group.

He has particularly been offering advice and help to a bishop in Burnley who he ordained last year, who is running a huge operation delivering around 1,000 meals a week during the Covid-19 pandemic.