“A Hard Day’s Night” at Woolton Picture House!

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Exciting news from Richie the Ranger!  Woolton Picture House was, of course, a favourite place of John’s in his youth and is much-loved by local residents today.  Richie’s films/talks are always hugely popular and this promises to be a very special performance on a very special day!

“I will be staging a screening of the Beatles first film ” A Hard Days Night” on Wed 5th July at 12.00 noon.

This fabulous film will be screened at Liverpool’s oldest cinema, The Woolton Picture House, where one can relax in comfort and revel in the nostalgia of this fantastic musical journey.

Released on 6th July 1964, this is still regarded as one of the top 100 best british films ever released and truly captures the magic and talent of the early days of the group.

Experience the Beatles on the big screen, performing hits such as

A Hard Days night movieposter.jpg

#CelebrateCommunity  #StPeters60

Mersey Harmony Singers Join the Celebration!

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We are absolutely thrilled to announce that the Mersey Harmony Singers will be joining the celebrations and performing in St Peter’s Church Hall on Friday July 7 at 2pm!

Mersey Harmony are an all- female a capella chorus who sing in barbershop close four part harmony.  They were formed in 1976 and attract singers of all ages and from all walks of life, but who share a common love of singing.  They were founding members of the Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers, and have been competing nationally and internationally for the past 40 years.

We are both excited and privileged that they will be performing in the Church Hall as part of our celebration of the day that John met Paul and the importance of community.  Entry to the concert is FREE, so please join us for what promises to be a very special afternoon of music from a local community group!

In the meantime, check out this fabulous youtube link of the Mersey Harmony ladies singing at the LABBS Convention last year!

For more information on Mersey Harmony, visit the website by clicking HERE, or  follow them on Facebook and Twitter

#CelebrateCommunity #StPeters60

 

Thank you Tesco!

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Once again we are overwhelmed by the support of local organisations for our anniversary celebrations!   Thank you, Tesco Woolton, for your generosity!  Every little certainly does help, and you have helped a lot!  We really are extremely grateful.

Tesco is an important part of  Woolton village, and the support of Tesco is further proof why the theme for the anniversary – A Celebration of Community – is so apt.  You really are a champion for our community!

Click here for more information on Tesco Woolton, including location and opening times.

tesco woolton

#CelebrateCommunity   #StPeters60

John and Bell-Ringing at St Peter’s Church

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Ellie Wilde contemplating John’s connection with St Peter’s Church

It is a little known fact that John Lennon once tried his hand at bell-ringing at St Peter’s Church in his youth.  The current Tower Captain at St Peter’s, Nick Willasey, told us that: “John Lennon did attend a couple of bell-ringing practices around 1957 – but didn’t take it up, as the then Tower Captain suggested that bell-ringing may not be for him, as John was not keen on doing what he was instructed to do!”  Nick went on to add that “John would have been taught on Bell Number 3.”

 

 

The exciting news for visitors to the Church during the anniversary is that the Bell Tower will be open for tours during the celebrations, and visitors will be invited to have a go at bell-ringing themselves on the historic Bell Number 3!

 

Full details for the Bell Tower tours have yet to be confirmed, but we are delighted to announce that it will be open to visitors on Wednesday July 5 and Thursday July 6 for three one-hour slots:

  • 1000-1100
  • 1200-1300
  • 1400-1500

Once up the tower there will be flyers about the history of the tower and bells and recruitment, and an opportunity to hear about bells and bellringing with some ringers as well, of course, as the opportunity to ring Bell Number 3!

 

#CelebrateCommunity #StPeters60

The Day John Met Paul

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Here are James Davis’ photos of the procession that began the festivities on July 6, 1957 the day that John met Paul, and also Geoff Rhind’s famous photograph of the Quarrymen performing at the fete in the afternoon.  You have to wonder what was in John’s mind as he sat on the back of the lorry as it trundled around Woolton village, or in Paul’s mind when he first saw John on stage!  Whatever it was, little did they know that their lives would never be the same again as a result of that ‘fateful’ conversation in St Peter’s Church Hall later that day!

We are indebted to Rod Davis and Geoff Rhind for allowing us to post their photographs on our website!

Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Day John Met Paul

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Although the first big anniversary celebration didn’t take place at St Peter’s until 1997, we were thrilled when a member of the current congregation gave us some old parish magazines that she’d found.  Among them was one from July 1987, which included a small piece commemorating the 30th anniversary of the day that John met Paul and discussing the impact that that meeting was having on Woolton village as well as on the world.

One of the wonderful things about preparing to celebrate the 60th anniversary is the constant discovery of little snippets like these of the Church’s past that only confirm how important St Peter’s Church is in the story and legacy of the Beatles!

 

I wonder what we’ll find next!!

Photo Mystery – Can You Help?

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Mark Ashworth has sent us this fabulous photograph, taken in St Peter’s Church Hall in the late 1950s or early 1960s, and we’d love to find out as much as we can about it!

We wondered if it might be a gathering of the Church Youth Club, as there’s a box of 45s on the table on the left hand side, but if anyone can help with any information, we’d be very grateful.

You can comment on this post, or email us at beatlesatstpeters@gmail.com

But even if we can’t find out anything, we still love this new glimpse into the history of St Peter’s Church Hall!  Thanks for allowing us to share this, Mark.

 

Thank You, Hard Day’s Night Hotel!

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The Hard Day’ Night Hotel

With a little help … 

There are occasions when the words “thank you” will never be enough to express the full extent of a person’s gratitude.  Today, for all of us at St Peter’s Church, is one of those days, as we attempt to express our thanks to the Hard Day’s Night Hotel.

 

As we were planning the events for Sunday July 9, we realised that there might be a slight problem for those people who wished to attend the whole day.  With the Church service beginning at 10.30am, and the party not finishing until at least 4pm, we knew that everyone would be faced with the choice of either going hungry or missing out on some of the fun while they went in search of their Sunday dinner!  However, the only way that the Church could provide refreshments would also involve charging an entry fee — and that’s the last thing that we want to do!

The Lennon Suite, Hard Day’s Night Hotel

Well, thanks to the wonderful people at the Hard Day’s Night hotel, our dilemma may have been at least partially resolved!  Through the exceedingly generous support of the hotel, we will be able to offer snacks to all our visitors that day completely free of charge!

We, at St Peter’s Church are so very grateful for this wonderful gesture of support, and not only because it makes it possible for us to continue to welcome visitors to share in the celebrations without having to charge an entrance fee.  It also represents and reflects the hotel’s belief in the importance of St Peter’s Church in the history and the legacy of the Beatles, and that means the world to us.

thank you from all at st peter’s to the hard day’s night hotel!

“With a little help from our friends … ” Thank you, Hard Day’s Night Hotel!