NORTH LANCASHIRE METHODISTS
SUPPORT FAIRTRADE CAMPAIGN

The Vice-President of the Methodist Conference, Mr John Bell assisted by the Rev. Stephen Poxon, District Chair, has launched the Church’s support for the 2006 Fairtrade fortnight campaign by completing a creative collage on the theme ‘Make Fairtrade Your Habit’. The collage, mounted on a Fairtrade cotton cloth, was created by the Garstang Circuit’s Youth Group using images supplied by the Mustard Seed, Garstang’s ‘One World Shop’. He is shown adding the District’s Certificate from the Fairtrade Foundation that recognises the commitment of local Methodist churches to serve only teas and coffees at their meetings that carry the FAIRTRADE Mark, to increasingly use other Fairtrade products, and to raise public awareness of the Mark during, for example, Fairtrade Fortnight.

The ceremony took place at Pilling Methodist Chapel at a ‘Meet the Vice-President’ Forum held in the Garstang Circuit, and preceded a combined service for local chapels when Mr Bell was the preacher for a large congregation.  

During Fairtrade Fortnight from 6-19th March, the collage will form the centre piece of a larger display in the hall at Garstang Methodist church.
The Church itself will be decorated with Fairtrade produce and a Fairtrade Exhibition mounted in the adjoining Mustard Seed shop. Visitors are invited to ‘get creative’ by adding their own messages of support for Fairtrade to the collage.

Premises will open as normal on Tuesdays from 10 –12noon and Thursdays from 10 – 2pm; additionally on Friday 10th March from 2.30 – 4.30pm; and extending on Saturdays 11th and 18th from 10am – 1.30pm

ALSO IN FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT

George Alagiah visited Garstang and is seen below speaking in the Methodist Church