Celebrating 150 Years of Faith and Community in Mossley Hill
1875 - 2025
Since its foundation in 1875, the Church of St. Matthew and St. James has stood as a beacon of faith, hope, and service in the heart of Liverpool. With its stunning Gothic Revival architecture and rich history, our church has been a spiritual home and community hub for generations.
In June 2025, we marked Mossley Hill Church’s 150th Anniversary with a busy week of community events and activities.
We kicked things off in style on a Friday evening with a Gala Dinner for our Church family. Over a hundred guests enjoyed fabulous hospitality and entertainment as the sun streamed through the windows of the Church which – for one night only – was transformed into a grand banqueting hall.
This was followed on Sunday with a Civic Service to officially launch the celebrations. Local dignitaries and friends joined us in worship and in a nod to the next chapter in the Church’s long history, many of our children and young people played an active role in this celebration of memories, gratitude and what lies ahead.
A warm welcome to all
In the week that followed, we threw open our doors to the public as we invited visitors to find out more about the story of the Church as told by our tour guide volunteers and some fascinating objects. There was also a special side exhibition sharing memories from many of the happy couples who have tied the knot in Church over the years.
The Church itself looked blooming lovely for our visitors thanks to the support of our wider community who had worked with our wonderful flower arranging team to produce a fantastic festival of flowers.
The inaugural Mossley Hill Festival
We topped off the week with Mossley Hill’s first-ever festival; an ambitious collaboration between the Athletics Club, the Residents Association and the Church. Thousands of visitors including neighbours, friends, charities, local makers and community organisations gathered on the Athletic Club grounds for a day packed with activities, stalls, food, music and fun for all ages.
Special guests including BBC NWT’s Mairead Smyth, Drag Race UK’s Sister Sister and Liverpool acting legend, Sue Johnston, all made appearances throughout the day, keeping the crowds royally entertained.
A legacy of love, support and connection
Drawing proceedings to a close at a very special Sunday service where she was joined by some of her predecessors, Rev Rachel Archer, said:
“What a fantastic way to celebrate 150 years of faith and community here in Mossley Hill. The church has been a place of love, support and connection for generations, and this week has been a joyful expression of that legacy.
“To have so many people celebrate with us has been wonderful. A huge and heartfelt thank you to all those who worked so hard to make this possible – you really are amazing!”