PEOPLE from all walks of life in Radcliffe have re-affirmed their faith by helping create the mammoth Borough's Millennium Scriptures.

The six leather-bound manuscripts feature more than 5,000 verses, nearly two thirds of the New Testament, and will become a key historical document in the years to come.

Schools, churches and old people's homes throughout the borough took part in the massive project which has raised more than £5,000 for the Bible Society at home and abroad.

The Bury Gospel of St Matthew and the Bury Epistle to the Romans, together with Ramsbottom's Gospel of St John and Tottington's St Mark, have been presented at Guardians Angels Church in Bury.

Rev Paul Cannon, the Roman Catholic Area Dean of Bury, welcomed worshippers to the ecumenical service, drawn up by members of the churches in west Bury.

The sermon was preached by the Rev Eric Ruehorn, chairman of the Bury Action Group of the Bible Society, and the prayers were taken by representatives of the churches. The anthem was given by the choir of Bolton Road Methodist Church. Mr John Bisson, secretary of the Bury Action Group, said that a handwritten New Testament had been completed in Chester Cathedral in 1994 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the birth of William Tyndale, one of the earliest translators of the Scriptures.

Mr Bisson explained: "Here in the borough of Bury, we have followed on as a Millennium project, with the writing of the Gospels, the Acts of Apostles and the Epistle to the Romans.

"We have copied from a modern translation the Contemporary English Version. In all, including Radcliffe, Prestwich and Whitefield, we have written 5,171 verses, nearly two thirds of the New Testament, and contributed more than 100 illustrations."

He added: "Members of 70 churches, 35 schools, two societies and two old people's homes have been involved in the project.

"The six magnificent leather-bound manuscripts have been the work of Cyril Formby, bookbinder in Ramsbottom, and the funding has been provided by the generosity of local individuals and companies in the borough."

Mr Bisson went on: "The project has had three dimensions. Thousands of people, young and old, have taken the opportunity to affirm their influence of the Scriptures in shaping their history and their lives.

"In writing a verse from Scripture, they have linked themselves in faith to those who originally wrote and illustrated the Scriptures by hand.

"Each manuscript carries the names of all who have participated in the project. Names are listed on the end pages or added to the illustrations."

He continued: "The manuscripts, to be kept eventually in the Bury Archives, will surely be an important and impressive historical document in the years to come.

"In practical terms, the project has raised over £5,000 for the work of the Bible Society at home and abroad."

The Society, founded in 1804 in London and here in Bury in 1811 as an auxiliary, now the Action Group, has never deviated from its mandate to provide the Scriptures to the people of the world in a language they can understand and at a price they can afford.

Mr Bisson said: "A Bible, or part of the Bible, is available today in 2,500 languages. It is estimated there are more than 6,500 languages in the world.

"The Bible Society of England and Wales is linked to a further 130 national Bible Societies, operating in more than 200 countries and they all work to the same end."