Page 25 - News Autumn_Winter 2024_Print

A PILGRIMAGE

TO APPLEBY

Julia Walmsley of the Blackpool, Fylde & the presence of Christians is welcomed.
Wyre Branch felt a great peace and anointing Encouragingly, many more travellers
as she walked around Appleby Fair this year, came into St Lawrence's Church this
year. The cafe is popular and PWT's are
along with other members from GOOD displayed near the door for people to
NEWS for Everyone! Julia describes the take with them.
scene and the people she met. As usual responses from the public
“Step back in time, hundreds of years, to an age where were always positive and polite and
horses were the main means of transport and economic a substantial number of Testaments
development. This was a simpler age where the pace of on Saturday were distributed.
life was slower and extended families gave emotional The Lord led me to meet and converse with several key
and practical support to each other in perilous times. figures at Appleby, including John McKale, an ordained
This was an age of respect for others, especially for men minister with Assemblies of God who has written four
of God and the teachings of the Bible, and where families books about the Travellers. Please pray for his work
mattered, and entertainment was unsophisticated amongst the Gypsy people.
and free.
I also met Jim Boswell who was converted in the
Appleby Fair is a unique scene not likely to be 1990's and runs an evangelistic outreach to his people.
encountered anywhere else in the world. It is a
pilgrimage, a passage of rites for horses and riders His family are part of one of the largest and most
important Gypsy families in England with many Gypsy
alike as their ancestors have done for countless
generations before. Kings in their lineage. Please pray for his very sincere
ministry to his people.
The riverbank on both sides was packed full of people,
mainly travellers who attend this annual event to meet Please also pray for one of his fellow market stall holders
up with friends and family and enjoy a simple picnic who was very interested in the Gospel as we chatted for
at a slower pace. In these relaxing surroundings it is easy to twenty minutes.
approach them with Personal Worker Testaments (PWT's) A final thought from a teenage girl from Northern Ireland
and initiate a conversation if felt prompted to do so. who gladly received a New Testament and asked, “Why
Appleby Fair 2024 felt even more anointed than previous do you give them out for free, they are beautiful books?"
years. God was surely in this place shining down on His I told her it was so she could have the opportunity to
people. There is no doubt that He has a special love read the Bible herself. This brought tears to her eyes, as
for travellers which is demonstrated by the number of she gratefully received it.
Evangelical organisations permitted to attend this event. I was again reminded of the precious ministry we are part

Appleby is unique in that street preaching is allowed; of which touches people’s hearts with the kindness and
forceful old-fashioned revival preaching which took place compassion of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. May our
right in front of the police. In other circumstances the efforts long continue and may the harvest be bountiful
preachers may have been arrested but in this situation and abundant. “

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News Autumn_Winter 2024.indd 25
News Autumn_Winter 2024.indd 25 18/09/2024 12:30