When the Diocese reformed the system of Deaneries some years ago, 25 Local Pastoral Areas were set up linking local churches with the aim of giving opportunities for closer co-operation and mutual support.  Each LPA is listed under the patronage of a saint or Our Lady. The parishes of Christ Church, Heald Green, St Chad’s, Cheadle and our own St Ann’s, Cheadle Hulme are grouped together as LPA 19 St Chad (whose name is reputed to be the origin of the name Cheadle).

The LPA has now been renamed to Local Missionary Area. We are now LMA 19 St Chad.

The parish priest and a lay representative from each parish together with a representative of the local schools and local catechists make up the committee and they meet quarterly rotating the venue each time.

The LMA’s role is to coordinate the main sacramental programmes across the parishes and the different Mass times in each church to maximise opportunities for worship.  They also organise area penitential services and days of recollection and retreat experiences and seek to find ways to respond to requests from the Bishop to consider parish involvements in particular events or surveys that he deems important to the Church in the Shrewsbury Diocese.

Parish representatives are elected for a three year period and names are published in St Ann’s weekly newsletter.