Saint Columba URC is located at Hunts Cross, Liverpool and is quite close to Liverpool John Lennon airport. It is a fairly modern church by some standards and its history can be traced back to 1942 when a group of people gathered in a garden shed at a house called ‘Brentwood’ to worship together. They worshipped as Presbyterians and the foundations of the congregation and indeed church started.
Below is a brief timeline history of St. Columba URC Liverpool.
In 1943 the newly formed congregation moved from the garden shed and they moved into a chicken hut which was bigger than the original shed. They stayed worshipping in the chicken hut until 1949.
In 1944 the Rev. Edward Charles Lane was appointed as the minister and the current site of the church was purchased at the junction of Hillfoot Road and Hillfoot Avenue. The church as we know it today could not begin being built however due to wartime restrictions.
In 1947 with the ending of war and rationing a licence was granted to build a semi-permanent church building.
On the 18th June 1949 a new semi-permanent Church opens in Hunts Cross and was named Saint Columba.
In 1951 the Rev. Charles Henry Shaw B.A. was appointed as the minister of the new St. Columba church.
In 1952 the congregation of St. Columba celebrated their 10th anniversary.
In 1953 the registrar-general authorised St.Columba’s for the solemnizing of marriages. The first wedding was held on the 7th March 1953.
In 1955 the 28th Allerton Scout Group was formed in St.Columba’s.
In 1956 the Rev.John Brown was appointed as the minister.
In 1958 the 401st Guide Company was formed in St. Columba.
In 1963 Workmen move onto the site to start building a ‘New Church’.
In 1964 the current Church building of Saint Columba is completed in Hunts Cross and a new minister was appointed in Rev. Frank Glendinning.
In 1967 the congregation achieved the 25th anniversary of its foundation in Brentwood.
In 1967 the 401st Liverpool Brownie Pack was formed at St. Columba’s.
In 1970 the 25 club was formed as a lunch club for older people of the local community under the chairmanship of Mrs.Eileen Blakeley.
In 1972 the Presbyterian Church of England and the Congregational Church of England and Wales agree to unite and form the United Reformed Church.
In 1972 Saint Columba United Reformed Church was formed.
In 1976 the Rev. John Barry Hawksworth was appointed as the new minister of Saint Columba URC Liverpool.
In 1978 the Saint Columba Squadronettes were formed they were a majorette dance troupe. The troupe catered for girls from the ages of 4 to 24. The squadronettes carried the name of St. Columba not only throughout the United Kingdom but also across Europe. The Saint Columba squadronettes won many competitions during the time they competed culminating in winning the European Majorette Championships in Spain and the Majorette World Championships in the Isle of Man.
In 1980 the ’25 club’ celebrated their 10th anniversary.
In 1981 W.Herbert Elliot was appointed as Interim Moderator for St. Columba URC.
In 1982 the Rev. W. Herbert Elliot was appointed as the minister of Saint Columba URC.
In 1993 the Rev. Heather Marjorie Gabbott was appointed as minister.
In 1998 on the 21st February the new Church Hall named ‘Brentwood’ after the original meeting place for the congregation was completed and opened by the URC Mersey synod moderator the Rev. G. Cook.
In 2002 Saint Columba URC celebrates its Diamond Jubilee
In 2008 the Rev. Alan Crump was inducted as minister to Saint Columba URC Liverpool.
St. Columba URC Ministers Timeline
1943 – 1944 Laurence J Farmer (Interim Moderator)
1944 – 1950 Eddie C. Lane
1951 – 1955 Charles H. Shaw
1956 – 1964 John Brown B.Mus
1964 – 1975 Frank Glendinning
1976 – 1981 J.Barry Hawksworth
1981 – 1982 W.Herbert Elliot (Interim Moderator)
1982 – 1983 W.Herbert Elliot (Minister)
1993 – 2003 Heather Marjorie Gabbott
2003 – 2008 In Vacancy
2008 – present Alan Crump