A COMMUNITY GATHERING AT ASCENSION CHURCH HULME

282 Stretford Rd, Manchester M15 5TQ

In May 2023 Ascension Church Hulme hosted the Come What May festival in Hulme. The activities and events are detailed below.

PURCHASE PHOTOS FROM COME WHAT MAY

For the password, please email admin@ascensionchurchhulme.co.uk

THURSDAY 18 MAY

• PANdemonium! Steel Pan performance

  11:00AM - 11.45am

  Trinity High School Steel Pan performance and light refreshments.

  (Open to all - no booking required)

• Patronal Festival Eucharist: Our annual special Eucharist service

  12:00pm - 12.45pm

  Join our service to commemorate our church’s name. Includes special guests and music from Liverpool Jazz collective Bric and Brac.

  (Open to all - no booking required)

• PASSAGE: Honouring the stories of the Windrush generation

  1:00PM - 4:00pm

  Ahead of the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the Windrush, this event will honour the stories, histories and heritages of those who came over to Britain during that time. There’ll be a chance to enjoy tasty Caribbean cuisine, toe-tapping Caribbean jazz and steel-pans, thoughtful spoken word poetry, and other talented performances. Dress to impress, in your Sunday best.

• SOUL SOUNDS: Natural Voice Communal Singing (in the Hall)

  6.30PM - 9:00pm

  Soul Sounds is a monthly communal singing group led by Damien Mahoney, using 
the Natural Voice approach. Natural Voice is a network of people who work with song and voice, believing that singing is everyone's birthright, regardless of musical experience or ability.

  Tickets: £7 pre-booked or £10 on the door

• TABLE: Food and Curious Conversation (in the main Sanctuary)

  7:30PM - 9:00pm

  Join our monthly Table community for food and curious conversation around the theme of ‘Passages – journeys that transform us’. While we eat, we’ll engage in discussion around the table. This is a bring-and-share event so get cooking, baking or shopping and bring food along to share with others, as well as your thoughts and experiences.
  

  Please text 07867 257 326 or buy tickets below to indicate you are coming and what food you plan to bring (this helps us make sure we don’t end up with 10 salads and nothing else!)

FRIDAY 19 MAY

• PICK AND MIX: A magical encounter with music

  9.30am - 12.30pm

  Selected local schools have been invited to gather together and encounter three musical experiences: The Royal Northern College of Music’s Brass Engage, African drumming collective Drumroots and Gospel Choir collective Voices Beyond.

  
  

• PERSPECTIVES: History, rights + justice through an alternative lens

  5.30pm - 9.30pm
  
  (Speakers include Viraj Mendis, Anthony Brown & Christxpher Oliver)

  Perspectives will explore Hulme’s history of defending the rights of the vulnerable. Viraj Mendis will be interviewed live online. He sought asylum in Ascension Church whilst a student in the 1980s before eventual deportation. Anthony Brown will speak on co-founding Windrush Defenders Legal C.I.C. who run Windrush Surgeries and a project titled Burning Work. Christxpher Oliver will read poetry in reference to the Caribbean Artists Movement, Burning Work and Elouise 'Mama' Edwards archive collection at the AIU RACE Centre.

  Also be stirred by 'archaic funk fables and soul migrations' in a live set by Manchester band Caulbearers. Hear poetry by Young Identity, and a featured performance by the Singers. Local restaurant, Kim’s Kitchen, will provide food to purchase.

SATURDAY 20 MAY

• PASSIONATE PLAY: Have fun + learn new skills at our locally-led workshops

  1:00PM - 4:00pm

  Come along to one of our locally led, family-friendly workshops. Bring along your old clothes and turn them into rugs with Stitched Up. Develop budget cooking skills with Cracking Good Food. Enjoy drumming with XR Samba. Bring your bike, learn basic bicycle maintenance and ride local routes. Get gardening tips on growing and sowing. Try your hand at tote bag screen printing. Bring your phone, tablet or devices and get IT advice. Sing for fun and wellbeing with natural voice communal singing group Soul Sounds. Arrive early to secure your workshop place as numbers are limited. Refreshments available to purchase.

SUNDAY 21 MAY

• PRESENCE: All-age Eucharist service

  11.30am - 12.45pm

  This all-age service will be on the theme of Christ’s ascension. It will include a performance from the Lugandan Choir, music and a collective collaging activity constructing gift boxes.

• PEOPLE POWER

  1:00PM - 4:00pm

  All-age community celebration with food, dance, craft, music and moreBring your family and friends to this community celebration jam-packed with fun for all ages. Vegetarian food will be generously provided by Feed My City and there’ll be a chance to enjoy a mini petting zoo, a family film, craft, massage therapy as well as performances from a local choir and youth dance crew. As part of the event we will also celebrate the valuable role of our key workers.

• PAUSE: Fire and Gold - Hour of Contemplation

  8:00PM - 9:00pm

  Fire and Gold is our weekly opportunity for stillness using practices drawn from Christian contemplation. Join us for an hour of candlelit stillness, contemplation and the chance to pause, connect and reflect.