The early eighties saw Church of the Saviour celebrating its 80th anniversary and sharing a vicar for the first time when John Astill was appointed Priest-in-Charge at Christ Church. Home discussion groups, the fore-runner of house groups began with 46 people in four groups meeting monthly. The newly renovated organ was put through its paces in a recital by our organist, Harry Bailey. Jim Holden ran in the Bolton Marathon, raising £900 in aid of the East Lancs. Hospice appeal. In order to save the cost of buying the brand new, very thick and rather expensive Alternative Service Book the church was given permission to produce a smaller booklets for Holy Communion and so the church gained its own Little Red Book. And it was still only 1981.

September 11th 1982 was one of those key days in the life of the church. It was set aside as a day of prayer for the whole church, specifically for guidance for the PCC. The problem to be faced was lack of space especially on parade Sunday and at Sunday School. This day set in motion the wheels of a project which was to dominate the rest of the decade. When the body of the church was full and the side aisle had to be used, which was happening more and more frequently, five very thick pillars severely resticted the view of anyone sitting behind them, making those people feel cut off from the service.

After much prayer and many meetings, including a visit to a church in Sheffield with a similar problem, a two phase building programme was proposed. Phase I, the pillars would be thinned to make them virtually see through and in phase II additional hall accommodation would be built to meet the ever-increasing demand for space during the week as well as at weekends. These decisions were finally made in 1984.

Back in 1983 we heard that our last parish worker, Jean Howard, was to become a deaconess. Rob Coke was to take up a crown appointment at Fence -in- Pendle and Alf Hadwin was licensed as a Reader. Lay members were authorised to administer at Holy Communion and the first to hold that honour at the Saviour were, John Ashcroft, Alf Hadwin, Jim Holden, Ken Matthews and Edwin Sowerbutts.

A sad occasion for the church came when our organist Harry Bailey died suddenly whilst getting ready to attend the Sale of Work.

On a happier note the Cricket Club went from strength to strength with awards from the league. The 1983 season saw Mark Hammond win two awards, the Individual Bowling and Best Bowling Performance, whilst Ian Jenkinson became Sportsman of the Year. The following year, 1984, the cricket club produced the Young Player of the Year, when Lee Blackburne won the Hubert Briggs Trophy.

Early in 1984 we received the news that Tom Morgan had been appointed Archdeacon with particular responsibility for training canadian Indian Ministers. He later became Bishop of Saskatchewan. John Roberts was appointed Rural Dean and John Ashcroft became a Reader.

Meanwhile the building work had been progressing and by January 1985 the pillars had been thinned and the interior decor was completed. At the carol service in December '84 with a congregation of 400 the side aisle was full and everyone could see. Phase I was declared a success.

Alf Hadwin, convinced that God's call extended beyond his role as Reader left us in 1985 to train as a Non-Stipendiary Minister and then to become curate at St. James, Lower Darwen. Brian Underwood left us to become rector of Low Bentham. John Astill left us to become team rector of North Ferriby in December.

Our curate, Rob Wall had the unenviable task of steering us through the interregnum as Curate-in-charge. Outside the church in 1986 two new projects were set up in the area which would have connections with the church. The Longshaw, Ewood and Infirmary Residents Association was formed spearheaded by a former church member, Christine Connell. Up on the estate a church sponsored project, the Mustard Seed House, was set up to serve the Higher Croft and Roman Road estates. The aim was to combat the loneliness and isolation experienced by many, to bring people together and offer practical and financial advice.

On March 15th '86 Jane Halsall was licensed as Reader, having previously been a Methodist Lay Preacher. Two and a half years later Jane and Mike with baby son Samuel left us to go to Wycliffe Hall in Oxford where Mike trained for the ministry.

Rev. Kevan Royle

The announcement of Kevan Royle's appointment as Vicar came in July '86 as Rob Wall left us for a parish in Edgeware London. Colin Patterson joined us a year later as curate.

The latter years of the decade proved a difficult time for many as modern music and charismatic styles began to have an influence. A big step was taken in 1987 when Sunday School moved to the morning and there was a concerted move to modernise worship with the introduction of CPAS Family Worship and the modern music of the then new Mission Praise. The beginnings of a young people's orchestra emerged, members of the youth displaying their talents on violin, trumpet, clarinet, guitar and drums. Well, the latter was the vicar pretending to be young.

After many different plans and ideas had been mooted the PCC finally decided that phase II of the building work would entail an extension built at the rear of church linking the whole complex of buildings together thus giving us an additional meeting place and kitchen.

In spite of a generous grant from the Church Urban Fund and help from the Diocese, a lot of money remained to be raised but the very ambitious building project was given the green light and work began on "The Extension" as it came to be known. The exterior work on the building was completed in early 1991, much of the internal work was to be completed by church members.

In June of that year Captain Peter Simmons of the Church Army arrived with his family to be the new parish community worker. Mike Halsall was ordained to the parish of St. Mary and John Oxford and plans were laid to celebrate the church's 90th anniversary.