naylor and walkden

carpenter chisels out career as man of the cloth

Reverend Terry Litherland’s ministry at Rivington Church entails much more than the customary parochial duties that most priests would be expected to perform.

A time served carpenter, Terry has also worked on much of the renovation work at the Lancashire Church whilst in the employ of local Chorley building contractors, Naylor & Walkden.

Terry who lives in Horwich originally went to work for Naylor & Walkden over 40 years ago with the intention of only helping out for a week or two. He stayed on to serve his full apprenticeship in carpentry and joinery at Catterall’s and then worked for Townson’s on the construction of the award winning Octagon Theatre in Bolton.

Opened in 1967 via a Bolton Council initiative, with financial support from businesses as well as money from highly popular community schemes (Buy A Seat and Buy A Brick), the theatre broke the mould of regional theatre design with an innovative, fully flexible auditorium where audiences are never more than 30 feet from the stage and actors.

Ordained in 1993, sixty three year old Terry also has a ministry at his local parish of Horwich and as a man of the cloth has presided over both joyful and sad occasions. However, none sadder than officiating at the funerals of friends and colleagues and especially at the funeral of the founding partner of Naylor & Walkden, Mr Les Walkden in 1998.

Reverend Terry Litherland remembered

 

“Marking the death of someone who was the backbone of the company who asked me to come and work for a week and then eventually all my working life was especially poignant. It gave me comfort that I could do something for him and his family and I was deeply honoured to be asked. Naylor & Walkden is a great company to work for and all of us, who work there, both old and new, are part of one big family.”