wirral
unitarians
faith with an open
mind
Our
Story so far…
Unitarianism
has its origins in the early Christian church but it was not until 1851
that the
first Wirral Unitarian church was established. This was Clive Hall at
Charing
Cross, Birkenhead. Relocating to Bessborough Road in 1903, the
congregation worshipped there until 1976.
| In Wallasey, Unitarianism began with a
series of Sunday services at Albert Hall in New Brighton. In 1892 the ‘iron
church’ became the place for worship
but this was soon followed by the Memorial Church
in Liscard which opened in 1899. Famous for the Della Robbia panels
found in the chancel, metalwork by Walter Gilbert and
the Pre- Raphaelite paintings by Bernard Sleigh, this building is now
owned by the Historic Chapels Trust. |
|
|
Meanwhile
in West Kirby,
the first Unitarians met in 1906
when
West Kirby Free Church (Unitarian) came into existence. Early meetings were held
in the Blenheim Café in The
Crescent. These were followed for a few years at the ‘tin church’ which
is now
a funeral parlour! Finally a church was opened in 1928 in Brookfield Gardens.
Sir Adrian Boult, the conductor, is probably this church’s most famous
worshipper, his family having been among the church’s founders. From
the 1980s
this became the church for all Unitarians living on Wirral. |
Now
as the latest chapter in our history Wirral Unitarians
are worshipping at the Quaker Meeting House, North Drive,
Heswall.