Our final service at Springwell Park Primary School and Children’s Centre

It was with mixed feelings that we held our last Sunday Morning Service at the school and children’s centre. We are extremely grateful to the Headteacher; staff and governors and in particular to Lol (Site Manager) for their support; willingness and generosity in allowing us to use their premises over the past five years.

We have not only held our services there but have shared services such as Harvest Festival and Mothering Sunday. We have also had events such as Messy Autumn; Sunday @ 6; Table Sales and family fun days.

After we had closed the doors of the school, we walked up to our new building and asked one of the youngest members of our congregation, Lewis, to open the door for us. For many members of the church this was the first opportunity they had had to see inside the building since the builders moved in last August.

Decisions about the building, including the colour scheme, have been taken by a small group of people who were designated to go on to the’ Building Committee’.

At that stage there was still a lot of work for the builders to finish off and we were not sure that everything would be finished in time.

We also had a lot of things in storage, in the school; at St Matthews Church Hall and in Bailey Court. So many people turned up that week to ensure we would be ready for our opening service. Finally the chairs arrived and the cross was installed.

Has anyone got a ladder?’

Arthur puts the final touches in place.

St John & St James version of the ‘Tiller Girls’?

Thanks to so many people and with God’s Grace we were ready to open

The Grand Opening Ceremony

Current trends for churches closing indicate that they are running at 20 per year. So it is with great pleasure that I can announce that a new church was opened on the 21st of June this year; St. John & St. James Church on Bailey Drive, Bootle.

The church was officially opened, licensed and dedicated by the Bishop Of Liverpool, the Right Rev. Paul Bayes. On the day, the church was packed out, and because so many people wanted to be a part of this historic day, the numbers had to be restricted by ticket only. These were reserved for the congregation both past and present, clergy and other special guests which included The Worshipful Mayor, Councillor Stephen Kermode and the Mayoress Gwen Kermode.

Some highlights of our first week

During our opening week, people came along to enjoy a variety of activities which began on the Monday morning with Squashy Play, where there were a variety of soft play activities, such as a bouncy castle, which very young children can enjoy. This was so successful that it is going to continue in September.

In the evening there was a BBQ, at which there was also a Mobile Zoo with Snakes and birds of prey for people to see and hold, as well as science experiments by staff from The Hawthorne’s School.

On the Wednesday afternoon we had Afternoon Tea, at which almost 90 people came along. Everyone enjoyed the spread that had been arranged by Sue Williamson and people also enjoyed meeting up together and chatting with each other. It was lovely seeing so many people really enjoying the centre.

This was followed by ‘Nifty Fifties’, which is an exercise class that you can do standing or sitting and this helped to work off all those cream cakes!

On Saturday morning we had a performance from ‘In Another Place Gospel Choir’, at which they sang several songs including ‘You lift me up’ and ‘We are Family’.

They have over 100 members, who regularly meet up because they just love singing. They are part of a larger organisation based at St Luke’s Church in Crosby, which was founded in year 2000 and took their name and inspiration from Anthony Gormley’s ‘Another Place’ Iron Men statues at Crosby beach.

Our final service at Springwell Park Primary School and Children’s Centre

It was with mixed feelings that we held our last Sunday Morning Service at the school and children’s centre. We are extremely grateful to the Headteacher; staff and governors and in particular to Lol (Site Manager) for their support; willingness and generosity in allowing us to use their premises over the past five years.

We have not only held our services there but have shared services such as Harvest Festival and Mothering Sunday. We have also had events such as Messy Autumn; Sunday @ 6; Table Sales and family fun days.

After we had closed the doors of the school, we walked up to our new building and asked one of the youngest members of our congregation, Lewis, to open the door for us. For many members of the church this was the first opportunity they had had to see inside the building since the builders moved in last August.

Decisions about the building, including the colour scheme, have been taken by a small group of people who were designated to go on to the’ Building Committee’.

At that stage there was still a lot of work for the builders to finish off and we were not sure that everything would be finished in time.

We also had a lot of things in storage, in the school; at St Matthews Church Hall and in Bailey Court. So many people turned up that week to ensure we would be ready for our opening service. Finally the chairs arrived and the cross was installed.

‘Has anyone got a ladder?’

Arthur puts the final touches in place.

St John & St James version of the ‘Tiller Girls’?

Thanks to so many people and with God’s Grace we were ready to open

The Grand Opening Ceremony

Current trends for churches closing indicate that they are running at 20 per year. So it is with great pleasure that I can announce that a new church was opened on the 21st of June this year; St. John & St. James Church on Bailey Drive, Bootle.

The church was officially opened, licensed and dedicated by the Bishop Of Liverpool, the Right Rev. Paul Bayes. On the day, the church was packed out, and because so many people wanted to be a part of this historic day, the numbers had to be restricted by ticket only. These were reserved for the congregation both past and present, clergy and other special guests which included The Worshipful Mayor, Councillor Stephen Kermode and the Mayoress Gwen Kermode.

Some highlights of our first week

During our opening week, people came along to enjoy a variety of activities which began on the Monday morning with Squashy Play, where there were a variety of soft play activities, such as a bouncy castle, which very young children can enjoy. This was so successful that it is going to continue in September.

In the evening there was a BBQ, at which there was also a Mobile Zoo with Snakes and birds of prey for people to see and hold, as well as science experiments by staff from The Hawthorne’s School.

On the Wednesday afternoon we had Afternoon Tea, at which almost 90 people came along. Everyone enjoyed the spread that had been arranged by Sue Williamson and people also enjoyed meeting up together and chatting with each other. It was lovely seeing so many people really enjoying the centre.

This was followed by ‘Nifty Fifties’, which is an exercise class that you can do standing or sitting and this helped to work off all those cream cakes!

On Saturday morning we had a performance from ‘In Another Place Gospel Choir’, at which they sang several songs including ‘You lift me up’ and ‘We are Family’.

They have over 100 members, who regularly meet up because they just love singing. They are part of a larger organisation based at St Luke’s Church in Crosby, which was founded in year 2000 and took their name and inspiration from Anthony Gormley’s ‘Another Place’ Iron Men statues at Crosby beach.