Our church originated in a small room on Park Street, off Stockport Market, and was run by Lily and Fred Hudson.

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Over the years, and numerous fund raising events they eventually raised enough money to fund the building of a new church. They approached the Council for a site to build their church and the only one offered was our current one, which was classed as an industrial site. It was offered on the understanding that, should the church fail, it would be converted into an industrial unit. The footings were laid and remained there for over a year, until there was enough money to build the church.

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The church opened in September 1972.

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The building was more basic than it is today, and services were held, in what is now, our tea room, except for the Divine Service on Sunday. There were rickety old wooden chairs, and very few extras, but the church went from strength to strength.

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Sadly, Fred Hudson passed over in May 1977, but Lily Hudson continued to run the church.

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One cold winter night in 1976, Albert Parker was persuaded by his wife June to take her to the church, by the time they found it, it was almost time for the service to begin, but Lily Hudson was stood in the doorway and told them to come in.

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They went several times, and June continued to go but Albert didn’t. Then June told Albert Parker that the church was starting a development group and he should try it. Thankfully, Albert Parker decided to give it a try, and that was the beginning of his journey within our church, and to him becoming the excellent medium that he is well known and respected for.

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Lily Hudson’s health began to fail and the running of the church became too much for her to cope with alone, and Albert Parker was asked to stand for President, he reluctantly agreed. Lily Hudson became Life President but Albert Parker took over the main running of the church in February 1978. Albert is the first to admit, that in those early years, he wasn’t totally committed to the church, as he preferred to spend his weekends at his caravan in Anglesey, Wales.

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The church had continued to raise funds by holding fairs, which first June Parker, then followed by Albert Parker, got involved, with June’s cake making and their jam making. They also held jumble sales, and the church funds grew. Albert Parker became committed, he moved all the services to the main church, even though it was still on the old wooden chairs. These chairs were eventually replaced by new wooden ones, and the carpets were renewed.

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Sadly, Lily Hudson passed over in January 1986, and left a small legacy to the church.

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This legacy together with the continuing fund raising enabled Albert to make further improvements to our church. Outside the flat roof was replaced, as was the lead (because it kept getting stolen) the signing and lighting were added, the garden was re-designed as it is today, and the wrought iron was added to the windows and garden area. Inside the stained-glass windows were added as were the chandeliers, and the wooden chairs were replaced with the comfy ones, all to make our church what it is today.

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The church is licensed for marriages, funerals and naming ceremonies, however in Albert’s early years in the church the registrars would not attend on a Saturday. To overcome this, Albert applied and became a registrar himself, thereby enabling weddings to take place on a Saturday.

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Over the forty years that Albert Parker has been at our church he has had to overcome various stumbling blocks with the church and his own health, but has continued to be guided by spirit, to make our church the welcoming haven that it is today.

Albert Parker sadly passed over on the 27th February 2021.