150 years of Methodism in Irby

by Pete Wildman | May 3, 2019 | Circuit News

The primitive Methodists first met at the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Cooke in 1869, when they opened their home at Irby Hill Farm to friends and neighbours to join them for worship.

Through their faith and witness they were able to build a chapel in the stockyard across the road from the farm in 1881. This became affectionately known as the ‘Tin Chapel’ .

Services continued here until 1936. As the village grew, so did the Church congregation and we moved to our present Church to accommodate the larger number of worshippers.

We will be holding an Anniversary Dinner on Friday, 25th October and an Anniversary Service, led by our former minister, the Rev. Charles New, on Sunday 27th October. On the days of June 7th 8th and 9th, we are holding a “Flower Festival”. The theme is “Lord for the Years.”

This is a truly huge undertaking, and our thanks go to The Wirral Flower Club and Anne Williams for their enthusiasm and skill, in leading us in this project. We would like the occasion to be inspiring and uplifting and to stimulate a community spirit. All are welcome to visit: the doors will open at 10.00 am.

Walking for Christian Aid

by Pete Wildman | May 3, 2019 | Circuit News

Neston & District Christian Aid’s traditional sponsored walk took place on March 16th. In 2018 wet weather made part of the walk very muddy, so this year we reccied it the day before, and advised a short diversion (which also avoided the need to watch out for golf balls!) and returned along Parkgate Parade to avoid the flood by the old baths.
During the night before, heavy rain made sure even the Wirral Way had plenty of puddles, and the flood by the old baths was even larger. A group of 28 hardy souls and several dogs battled through strong winds.
From Little Neston, walkers included Hazel and Gillian Blundell, Brenda Cunnington, Alison Ryall, Jean Turner, Eileen and Rob Ward, Lyn Worrall and Peter Wright.
Sponsorship money is still coming in. Thanks to Rev Hilary Smith for letting us use the URC hall, despite our muddy boots, to Margaret Heibel and Lynne Vaughan for refreshments, to all those who walked and to generous sponsors!
– Peter Wright

Charing Crossroads

by Pete Wildman | May 3, 2019 | Circuit News

The five young men are unseen behind the blue curtain as the puppets they operate mime to “Jesus fed five thousand…” – a parody, with the same stirring tune, of ‘The Proclaimers – 500 miles’.  This contributes to our Sunday morning café-style worship.

It takes me back 50 years to a youth service that I and other teenagers led using “She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah” as we celebrated God’s love.  Which then reminds me of the elderly worshipper who stayed away because it would be different to her usual service.

At a recent Circuit Meeting, I heard the comment: “I am too old to go to a Church like Charing Cross”.

Charing Cross is a Church that cherishes her history and can tell many remarkable stories of an eventful and fruitful past – some of you reading this were nurtured there so you know!    But, however much we might want to, we shouldn’t cling to the past and miss opportunities to embrace God’s future, however scary that might seem.

Charing Cross is a church with people of all ages:  0 – 90 years, with a lot of them in their 20s.  We encourage everyone to use their gifts whatever they are – puppetry, music, tea-making, sound system, projection, reading, craft, chatting, refreshments, minibus driving, welcoming …..

What is our future?  Well, we don’t know.  We are open to anything.  And I really mean anything.  Our church building either should be knocked down – before it falls down – and rebuilt or we need to sell up and be somewhere else.  So we are on a journey of faith and trust and discovery.

Our next stop on this journey is a gradual move into Tranmere Church building.  This excites us as we have some good community links in the area: the local primary school, young people, families and some older citizens – people attend the occasional activities that we hold.  We know that we can be ‘church’ in this place.  For now, we are still based in Charing Cross but starting to increase our presence in Tranmere.

What of our ministry and mission in Birkenhead Town Centre – which Methodism has served so well over the years?  We are now thinking, with the help of the Methodist District and Circuit, about how we can keep that presence.  There may eventually be a new Church building or use of an existing building or a presence with another church or something totally different or…..  .

We await the future with excitement and some trepidation.  Please pray for us; both our present and our future.  Your support means a lot to us.

–  Helen Jobling

Circuit supports FUSS and FUPS

by Pete Wildman | May 3, 2019 | Circuit News

FUSS/FUPS is an acronym for Free Uniforms for Secondary/Primary Schools and has been a mission project of St. Luke’s, Hoylake since 2012. The vision has been to make outgrown school uniforms, which otherwise would go to landfill, available to those who could not afford them.

From small beginnings the project  has grown rapidly year on year and last year supplied a massive 1700 uniform items throughout our circuit area. The main outlet is a shop in the Pyramids which dealt with around 60% of the requests, and there are also seven church hubs where uniforms can be collected.

Apart from the many in poverty across the borough, there are also those who fall upon hard times unexpectedly and can find the cost of uniforms overwhelming. For all of these the availability of such a lifeline from a Methodist Church, true to its strong tradition of caring and serving, can be as vital as a Foodbank.

This mission is carried out by volunteers overseen by an administrator, Andy Kemp. Andy’s grant funding ran out in 2017;  he has kept things moving voluntarily until now,  but this is unsustainable for a continually growing organisation. The Circuit Meeting has responded to the project’s appeal for help, , and unanimously approved funding of  £11,000 per annum for two years to employ a part-time administrator. This will allow Andy to concentrate on finding sources of external income to secure independence for the project again by 2021.

Can you help?

Whilst the circuit is committed to underwriting the costs to keep the project afloat, alternative funding would make it easier to continue to support our other missional activities. Just as Foodbank is generously supported by individual donations within churches, perhaps you would consider a personal financial contribution.

Every church will be receiving an appeal letter for their Church Council to consider their response as a church. If you feel you might wish to contribute as an individual please speak to your senior church steward.

• Stephen Pillow, Senior Circuit Steward