This is where we’ll try to provide weekly items in addition to our other updates and letters – please keep coming back here regularly.

11th January:

Please be encouraged by Kip’s first pastoral letter for the new year.

Please also note that any parents wishing to apply for a place for their children at Bishop Martin School for September this year, have until the 15th January for their completed application forms to be received by the school or the Liverpool Education Authority.

There is more information HERE

Coffee and Chat

While we are no longer meeting for worship in church again, we thought that it would be good to resume “Coffee and Chat” on Sundays after the online YouTube service with effect from Sunday 17^th January.

This is an opportunity to catch up on Zoom with church friends or to get to know people we might not have spoken to before.

So, if you would like to join us on Sunday mornings between 11:30 – 12:15 please email Julia Pratt ([email protected]).

6th January:

Kip’s notice makes for disappointing, but not wholly unexpected news.

We hope you and your families and colleagues all stay safe and well enough to join us as soon as we possibly can.

28th December:

For those not on our mailing list, please see Kip’s latest Pastoral letter ,which includes details of the on-line services planned for January 2021 (please note that in-church services have now been suspended)

19th December:

Following a trial at Liverpool Crown Court John Roberts, a former Rector at St Peter’s Woolton, has been found guilty on all counts against him. These relate to non-current safeguarding-related matters.

We are aware that that very many members of our congregations and community know people connected to this case. The verdict will have created strong emotions for many of them. We are particularly aware of, and grateful for, the courage of victims and survivors who have come forward to share their deeply painful experiences.

We want to acknowledge two things: firstly, that a verdict of guilty has been given, and secondly, that we recognise the hurt of many and the healing that is needed.

To contribute to this healing, we want to listen to all those affected by these things, and to do all we can support people in our community. We will therefore not be making any further public comment.

We continue to take safeguarding very seriously and we will continue to follow the best national and local guidance and practice to ensure that St Peter’s is a safe place for all. We assure you of our prayers, and ask for your own prayers for all involved.

If you, or anyone you know, want to talk to someone independently please call the Safe Spaces helpline on 0300 303 1056 or email [email protected]. There are also other support services available. You could also contact the Diocesan safeguarding advisor: [email protected].

Kip Crooks
19.12.20

1st December:

Mission Updates

In St Peter’s we seek to embrace the world and its needs alongside our mission in the parish and on our individual ‘front lines’ in the local community and beyond.  To give this a strong focus we have initiated partnerships with four agencies engaged in addressing a variety of needs, two in the city and two overseas: Encontro com Deus in Brazil, Christian Aid’s Pigeon Peas Project in Malawi, City Hearts Northwest and Voice.  We are hoping to provide a short item here about each of these in turn on a monthly cycle.  This month we are putting the spotlight on City Hearts.

City Hearts

City Hearts works to restore the lives of people who have been rescued from modern slavery.  They run safe houses and, before the pandemic, had a regular drop-in facility which catered for people who had moved on from the safe houses, which offered social support and educational experiences.   Their work in Liverpool is based at Hope City Church in Islington.

The need to suspend the drop-in service and the effect of lockdown on the safe houses has left many of their clients facing an extremely challenging situation.  “Because of the similarities to their time in exploitation, we are concerned they are facing traumatic flashbacks and other symptoms which have a negative impact on their mental health, however we are doing everything we can to help alleviate the negative impact” says Development Manager Kirsty Allan.

To address this situation they have filmed tutorials for clients on everything from exercise to sculpting and embroidery.  They are also distributing wellbeing packs for clients, which are full of exercises, mindfulness techniques, apps to download, games and activities for kids, ideas for home projects and health guidance.

We in St Peter’s donated £4,000 to them at the beginning of this year which was originally earmarked to extend a programme of educational and recreational group outings which they were starting.  Again, because of the pandemic, this had to be suspended, so they have used some of our donation for these wellbeing packs.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has launched a free national phone line as a simple new way to bring worship and prayer into people’s homes while church buildings are closed because of the coronavirus.

Daily Hope offers music, prayers and reflections as well as full worship services from the Church of England at the end of a telephone line.

The line – which is available 24 hours a day on 0800 804 8044 – has been set up particularly with those unable to join online church services during the period of restrictions in mind.

Find out more by following this link.