Where it all began...

From Cowshed to the Church with the steep green roof

Services of worship for the Anglican community in Clayton were held in the village school every Wednesday evening until 1948, when the Community Centre became its place of worship. In 1950, the Rector of Newcastle, Prebendary Cuthbert Watkin, recognised that a more permanent place of worship would be required for the new housing estates and was instrumental in the purchase of land at the junction of Clayton Road and Clayton Lane. Holly Farm with its out-buildings and surrounding fields were acquired, along with sufficient money to convert its cow byre into a mission church.

Following work to convert the farm building, the new Mission Church of St James was dedicated by the Bishop of Lichfield, the Right Reverend Dr Edward S Woods, on Saturday 11th November 1950

A mission took place to the whole parish of St Giles’ between the 9th and 19th September 1959. Led by the Rev Peter Pavey and students from St Aidan’s College, Birkenhead, the mission involved meetings, services and the systematic visiting of the homes in the parish by church members and the mission team.

So successful was the church in building up its congregation and establishing it at the heart of the local community that a larger church and a church centre was desperately required. So in 1960 a Church Building Fund was inaugurated