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?

“We have a joint purpose – community and church,” explains Dave Powell who is one of the redevelopment project leads and has been a church member since 1990. ‘Seacombe has changed beyond all recognition since the church was established here. But what has not changed is the urgent needs of its people for the church. The deprivation, both practical and spiritual, still exists as does the need for genuine and loving support and care.  We believe we can offer this and more with the revamped building and new facilities.”

Loving God, grant that our church may be a blessing to all in this neighbourhood, so that more and more people may come to love and trust you.

A special prayer from the centenary of the church building in 2011

Being Church helped to bring us here

The church is active in the organisation and participation of ‘Bridging the Wallasey Gap’ – providing food for families in need.  During the 2024 school holidays, 3,000 food hampers were delivered to 127 households referred by the local Primary Schools and Wirral Borough-wide holiday hunger scheme, whom the church has worked with for several years.

Other activities include an extensive programme with Riverside Primary School and Kingsway Primary School; holding social events, use of the refurbished church hall until the redevelopment is complete by groups such as Ferries Family Group, SODA (a group for those with disabilities and their carers), and a martial arts group.

The church’s drama group regularly presents shows such as murder mystery evenings and pantomimes, which are very popular with the local community. Monthly children’s drama workshop held on the third Saturday is also held.  In fact, old-fashioned advertising through a board outside the church brings in big crowds.

Being Church helped Seacombe URC to review all this and set out its priority to become a social and spiritual hub within the community:

1.     To be an integral part of the community

2.     To join together for praise and worship

3.     To continue being church in this place

4.     To be a community of love and care

5.     To live and share the Good News.

Revd. Lorraine Aizlewood-Threlfall commented: “All this fits into the building redevelopment plan as the multi-purpose venue will be modern, warm, comfortable and available. As well as being a space for worship, it will be a pre-faith building – something we feel is needed in a post-Christian society. We want to establish connections to enable conversations which could lead to commitment.

“We want to move our food poverty work from hamper deliveries at specific times to providing a neighbourhood café, working with all ages/intergenerational face poverty issues and health issues associated with loneliness.”   

Generations of community coming together

At the regular community events such as the weekly coffee mornings, taking place in the refurbished church hall (built in 1926), you can find people who have been involved with Seacombe URC for many years.

Ethel (pictured in the dark pink jumper in the photo slides) has been involved in the church since she was four years old. “It’s always been a community focused church and so alive with ideas and enthusiasm. My parents were married here, and a lot of people who were born here stay or come back to live so it’s a very close community.  I take part in community activities like Remember Me every year. This is where we tell local primary schools about past experiences of the community including rationing, evacuation and war”.

As Ethel and her friends talk, they mention how the local library closed and how children’s services and youth clubs have also disappeared. This reinforces how the church’s building project can make a real difference. “We’ve got to take people with us and we’re very forward thinking as a church so I know we can meet the needs of all ages.”

Diane, who got married at Seacombe and whose mother was a member, now attends regularly with  her daughter Lisa and granddaughter Annabelle.  “Seacombe URC is a lovely social friendly family church,” she commented. 

Key Tips

·       The redeveloped building will have multiple spaces, so the church host more than one activity at a time.

·       Activities will be delivered in partnership with other agencies with costs calculated on a ‘Full Cost Recovery’ basis to cover replacements and upgrades.

·       The church appointed an architect and a grant fund consultant to work with the church in identifying grant funding available and to make applications on behalf of the church.

·       Communicate with church members and the community through weekly news and groups, church meetings, presentations to gather opinions.

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