Stories from Our Churches – Faith in Action, Communities Together
At the heart of Mersey Synod are our churches, each with its own unique story, united by a shared commitment to faith, compassion and serving others.
Across our communities, faith is lived out in countless ways. From supporting those facing difficult times and creating welcoming spaces for friendship and fellowship, to celebrating life's special moments and bringing people together, our churches continue to share God's love through everyday actions.
Stories from Our Churches offers a glimpse into the life of our congregations, celebrating the people, experiences and acts of kindness that reflect Christian faith in action.
These stories remind us that church is more than a building or a Sunday service. It is about belonging, building relationships, offering hope and making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
Through faith, friendship and service, our churches continue to create places where everyone can feel welcomed, valued and connected.
05/09/2026
Port Sunlights Teddy Bears Picnic The Teddy Bears’ Picnic was a wonderful opportunity for children, families and the wider community to come together for a relaxed and enjoyable day of fun, friendship and fellowship.
Families were invited to bring along their favourite teddy bears and enjoy time together, with activities designed to help children and adults connect with one another in a friendly and welcoming environment. Events such as the Teddy Bears’ Picnic are an important part of the Church’s presence within its local community, creating accessible opportunities for families to engage with the church and build relationships with others.
20/09/2026
Port Sunlight Founders DayChrist Church recently celebrated Founder’s Day, continuing a tradition that began following the death of Lord Leverhulme in 1925. The annual service remembers William Hesketh Lever, who founded Port Sunlight in 1888 with a vision of creating a community where people and families could flourish.
This year’s service reflected on that legacy through the lens of living faith – recognising that faith is not only something we practise in church, but something we demonstrate through community, compassion and service to others.
03/10/2026
Ladies Day at St Davids Eastham ChurchOn Saturday 3rd October, St David’s Church in Eastham hosted Ladies Day 2026, bringing women together for a day of praise, worship and fellowship.
This year's theme, ‘Seasons of Faith’, offered an opportunity to reflect on our individual faith journeys, celebrate God's presence through life's changing seasons and enjoy time together in a welcoming and supportive environment.
The event also encouraged generosity, with attendees invited to bring donations for the local Foodbank, helping to support those in need within the community.
A wonderful opportunity to come together in faith, friendship and worship, reminding us of the importance of supporting one another throughout every season of life.
03/08/2026
Bethesda Church Groundbreaking CeremonyAfter six years in the making, Bethesda Church in Runcorn celebrated the ground-breaking ceremony for its new church building.
As part of this significant moment, a Bible was placed within the foundations of the new building, symbolizing God’s Word being at the very foundation of the church and everything that will take place there.
For the congregation, the ceremony marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter after years of planning, prayer and perseverance, and was a powerful reminder of faith, patience and God’s timing.
12/09/2026
Elmswood Church Community Clean UpMembers of Emmanuel Church recently took their faith out into the community with a local litter-picking day, helping to care for and improve the area around them.
It was a simple but meaningful example of Living Faith in action – giving time, working together and showing care for both our neighbours and the environment we share. Small acts of service can make a real difference and are a wonderful way of putting faith into practice.
01/09/2026
Emmanuel Church Community GardenAt Emmanuel Church, the opening of the new community garden celebrated a space created for the whole community. A place to grow vegetables, meet others, share skills and support wellbeing, the garden is a reminder that faith can flourish when we invest in both people and the places we share.
From building a church, to sharing a picnic, to planting a garden, Living Faith can take many forms. Each of these stories reminds us that our faith is not confined to our church buildings – it is lived through our relationships, our hospitality and the ways we serve and care for the communities around us.
Songs of Joy and Fellowship at St David’s URC Eastham
The second Ladies Day at St David’s, Eastham took place on Saturday 4th October, arriving with Storm Amy yet bringing a spirit of warmth and fellowship inside the church. The chosen theme was Worship Him in the beauty of holiness and worship was at the heart of the day.
Faith in Action: Unity and Dialogue Across the Region
Leaders of faith communities across Merseyside gathered this week, continuing a tradition that began in 2018. Twice a year, representatives from Christian denominations, including Catholic, Anglican, Free Churches, and leaders from Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh and Baha'i communities come together to strengthen relationships and share a common purpose.
Community in Action: From Knitting for Ukraine to Fun and Friendship at Home
At Macclesfield & Bollington URC, the church family has been busy spreading joy both near and far through two heartwarming initiatives.
Harvest Stories 2025: Celebrating Generosity and Community Across URC Mersey
Churches across URC Mersey have been celebrating Harvest with joy, creativity and generosity. St Andrew’s Meols and The Uniting Church in Garden Lane, have shown how Harvest can bring people together, inspire action, and make a real difference in their communities.
Fellowship, fun, and faith under the sun for St David’s URC Eastham
This summer, members and friends of St David’s United Reformed Church, Eastham came together for their much-loved annual Church Family Camp, a week filled with fellowship, fun, and faith under the sun.
Sunshine, Smiles, and 290 Ice Creams: Christ Church URC Haydock’s Summer Fayre Brings the Community Together
On Sunday 28th July, the grounds and halls of Christ Church URC Haydock were transformed into a vibrant hub of joy, laughter, and community spirit as over 250 people gathered for the church’s annual Summer Fayre.
An Uplifting Evening of Worship at Grange URC
Grange URC in Higher Bebington was filled with joy and song on Sunday 20th July, as the church family gathered for a very special event – Coffee, Cakes, and Choruses. It was the first Sunday evening service since Covid in 2020, and there was a real sense of gratitude and anticipation as friends, families, and even a few new faces came together once more in worship.
Unite Under the Rainbow: Open Table Warrington Marks 10 Years of Inclusive Worship
Open Table Warrington celebrated its 10th birthday with a full day of worship, creativity, and community connection at St John’s United Reformed Church on Sunday 13th July. Themed “Unite Under the Rainbow,” the event brought together long-standing members and first-time visitors to mark a decade of radical welcome and LGBTQIA+ inclusion in faith.
Young Messy Church helper gains Lundie award
Fourteen-year-old James Ineichen, from Christ Church, Port Sunlight URC , has been named June’s recipient of the Lundie Memorial Award. James, was nominated by Susan Frowe, an Elder and Messy Church leader at Christ Church, Port Sunlight URC.
URC Vicars Cross Marks 60 Years at the Heart of the Community
The United Reformed Church in Vicars Cross recently celebrated a major milestone, marking 60 years since its founding in the community. On the weekend of 28th–29th June, 2025, the church opened its doors and gardens to welcome the entire Vicars Cross community. The celebrations showcased the many ways in which God has been at work in the life of the church over the past six decades. The Lord Mayor of Chester, Clir Sherin Akhtar and Clir Elizabeth MacGlashen also attended along with local Parish Councillors.
Wings of the Sky: A Sanctuary Seeking Initiative by The Plum Project
The Plum Project, an initiative of the Uniting Church in Garden Lane, played a vital role in Wings of the Sky, a creative arts production rooted in the Sanctuary Seeking movement. The project was designed to involve local people seeking sanctuary through participatory arts and culminated in a moving performance at Chester Cathedral as a prelude to Refugee Week. Funding for Plum’s contribution to Wings of the Sky came from a combination of sources: Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWACC), the Mersey Synod Mission Grant, and individual donations.
Thomas Risley reaches out to local community in continued Eco Church drive
From organising regular community litter picks with pupils from Locking Stumps Primary School to taking part in the Great British Spring Clean with 150 children from Birchwood CofE Primary School, Thomas Risley URC TReco Group is committed to supporting its local community.
Feature: Wallasey Village URC Community Coffee Morning campaigns to end loneliness
Friends of Wallasey, a campaign to end loneliness in the Wallasey and Wirral area, is a successful ‘adult youth club’ at Wallasey Village URC, with some of the group joining church services from this weekly community event.
An incredible journey of music and faith: Liverpool Philharmonic Resident Film Organist and URC member Dave Nicholas
Highfield URC, Rockferry member David Nicholas soon celebrates his 90th birthday and 36 years as the Liverpool Philharmonic Resident Film Organist. Learn about his faith and music journey in this feature.
An opportunity for us to share God’s word: Christ Church Haydock’s Junior Youth Club’s Synod Mission Grant
Christ Church Haydock URC’s Junior Youth Club is open to all primary school age children in the community and is growing by the week with nearly 70 members. Children start off by listening to a short talk based around God’s word before choosing from a range of activities: football, table tennis, board games or crafts. Throughout the year, the Church also holds a number of ‘family night’ events which again provide the opportunity for to share God’s word, not only with the children, but with their parents too.
Easter Activities Across URC Mersey Synod
A round up of activities from across our churches for Easter 2025.
‘A Reimagined Worship’ faith and theatre combine to create innovative Sunday worship
‘A Reimagined Worship’ is an intergenerational, community collaboration, where faith and theatre have been combined to create an innovative Sunday worship. Designed and led by Marrissa Thorpe, ten weekly workshops saw volunteer participants from St Columba URC engaged in collective service planning to assess the capacity for experimental worship within the United Reformed Church.
Seacombe URC’s Mission to be a social and spiritual hub within the community
Seacombe URC has always been there for its community and is now rebuilding and redeveloping to continue meeting the needs of its neighbours. The old church building is being repurposed into a multi-functional building suitable for use as a community resource as well as a worshipping church. It is hoped to be completed in 2026 and has been assisted with funding from Mersey Synod Large Project Scheme. But why and how did the church come to develop this project? What does it mean for the community in Seacombe – spiritually and socially?
Happy 200th Birthday to St Andrew's URC Douglas
A wonderful service took place recently (14-16th March 2025) to celebrate 200 years of worship at St Andrew's URC Douglas. The Mersey Synod Moderator, Revd Geoff Felton, and Revd Catherine McFie visited the Isle of Man to join with St. Andrews Church in Douglas to celebrate their 200th Anniversary. The congregation was also joined by Victoria James, Chief Operating Officer of the URC, and Revd Dawn Mather, the most recent minister of the church. The service was led by Theunis Bassage and Richard Karran.
Leading your Church into Growth
At Mersey URC, we think Leading your Church into Growth is perfect for our churches.