Church involved in High Street event for the first time

The church in Newton-le-Willows has forever been open to the community, however, until the jubilee celebrations over the weekend, the church hadn’t been involved in events organised by local committee High Street Hive. 

Kathryn Cuncliffe, secretary of St Peter’s Church, said: “As a church family, we’ve decided that this needs to be our big welcome back to the church. It’s not the same as it was before lockdown so hopefully people will come and see that the church is open.

“The congregation has come together and made all this- it’s a team effort. When the Hive first got in touch to ask to use the car park, we just said of course you can, the more the merrier.

"We need people to come through these church doors, especially it being for the Queen. She’s the head of the Church of England and that’s why we are celebrating her 70th anniversary.”

Jim Robb, church warden, added: “That is what the church is here for, it’s for the community, and it has a fantastic history.”

Food and refreshments were provided by volunteers of the church, along with an opera singer and band performing during the day. 

Church volunteers Sue Hutton and Lucinda Duffy

Also with a display at the Church was Jacob's Cracker's tin collector Ian Henry, who has collected around 800 tins at his home. 

Ian worked for Jacob's Crackers in Liverpool and has since kept tins from his prevous workplace.

Included in the collection are Royal editions such as jubilees, coronations, and weddings. 

The tin collector displayed his Royal collection at the church and provided context for each tin, including the carriage that Jacob's had produced in 1936 for Edward VIII, however, following his abdication, the product was put on hold until his brother George VI was crowned. 

Well-dressed Ian posed in front of his Royal tin collection