On 15th November 1965 a small group of Christians, members of Brethren Assemblies in Liverpool but living in Maghull, met at the Knipe's house to discuss the planting of a "New Testament Church" nearer their homes.  That title was used because it was felt that they would bring with them the best of their background and leave behind those things which they thought were perhaps unhelpful.

There followed a Steering  Committee; a weekly Prayer meeting in the garage of a house which also served as Citizens Advice Bureau.  The fellowship itself grew apace.  Eventually this growing group of believers left their home assemblies and on 10th April 1966  began to Break Bread together in Stan and Elsie Lake's home. 

The Maghull Chapel Trust was formed on 2nd May 1966 and 6th November 1966 a Sunday School was established in Northway Primary School (with 93 children on the first Sunday).  Nearly 3 years later on 2nd March 1969 the first communion services started in the same location and the first family service was on 6th April 1969.  A year later on 19th April 1970 we began Covenanters (for 12-19 year olds) and there was a big youth group mainly of sixth formers who called themselves "Group 4".

There was great hope and faith and enthusiasm from the beginning.  After much prayer there was a hunt for land and eventually in 1972 land was purchased and in 1974 they started to build.

They hired two bricklayers and a labourer and paid them per thousand bricks they laid.  The Lord sent to the Fellowship people with building qualifications and building skills and some with just muscle.  Each weeknight and all day Saturday, weather and light permitting and with the exception of prayer meeting night they laboured, often in deep mud, for three years and three months turning the land into a good modern building with very pleasing aspect.  Finance came in at about the speed they were able to build.  They called the building Maghull Chapel.  It has an auditorium which can be made to seat about 180 persons.  At the back there are three large rooms and a kitchen.  It  was completed in 1978, allowing us to have our first Communion Service on 26 March, followed by a full-range of services on 2 April '78.

Today few have Brethren backgrounds, only about 20 families perhaps, and we have dropped the Brethren tag (we never started with it anyway).

(Information provided by John Knipe [pictured] & Mrs Joyce Cooper).