ONE of Wirral’s most established churches will be closing for worship this month, bringing an end to 116 years of service to the local community.

Upton United Reformed Church in Ford Road will hold its final service on Sunday, July 26.

Wirral Globe:
 

The church was opened in 1899 as Upton Presbyterian Church, a mission outreach church from West Kirby Presbyterian.

Since 1972, it has been a congregation of the URC, formed by the amalgamation of most Presbyterian and Congregational churches in England and Wales.

A special celebration service will take place to mark the church’s closure.

Local church leader Bill Gould said: “The congregation was in its heyday in the 1960s and 1970s, with a membership of more than 150 and more than 200 in its Sunday School, but is now depleted in size as the membership has grown older, with some people moving away.”

The hall buildings and grounds will remain in use over the coming months by organisations of St Mary’s Upton Church of England while their hall site is being redeveloped.

Bill said: “Many people in Upton and elsewhere on Wirral have been members of the Upton URC and Sunday School, and even more will have been members of its once thriving organisations – Boys and Girls Brigades, Youth Club, Women’s Fellowship.

“The closure of the church is a time to remember and celebrate these happy and valuable times when lifelong friendships were formed.”

All former members of the various organisations of Upton URC are invited to attend the closing celebration service on Sunday, July 26 at 3pm.

It will be led by the Moderator of the Mersey Synod of the United Reformed Church, Rev Jacky Embrey, with the present minister of the Church, Rev Debbie Brown, who is also the Minister of Highfield and Higher Bebington URCs.

The service will be followed by a reception and buffet.

Bill added: “If you are in contact with any former members, please make every effort to be in touch with them and arrange to come together to celebrate and reminisce about what the congregation and its associated members have achieved in its long life.

“It is sure to be a warm and happy time together meeting old friends.”