Mystery Worshipper: Seoirse
Church:
Ancient Chapel of Toxteth, Liverpool
Location: England
Date of visit: Sunday, 3 August 2025, 11:00am
The building
The building was completed in the 18th century, and is built in red stone with a slate roof. It stands on the corner of Park Road, opposite the former Dingle Picturedrome. The interior is very old-fashioned, with lovely box pews, an enormous pulpit and gallery seats on three sides. There’s a small graveyard outside, and many plaques inside dedicated to the great and good of the chapel.
The church
The congregation was mostly over 60, and seemed to be a close-knit bunch who all knew each other well. A member of the congregation told me that several of their number were at home due to the on-and-off rain we'd been having that morning.
The neighborhood
The chapel lies roughly on the border of the Dingle and Toxteth, two traditionally working-class, inner-city neighbourhoods of Liverpool. As one of the congregation pointed out to me, before urbanisation, Toxteth Park was a royal park extending far into what is now Aigburth, St Michael's and Garston. Today, the area is still blighted by crime, social unrest and deprivation.
The cast
A lay preacher led the service, and a member of the congregation operated the CD player and took the collection.
What was the name of the service?
Sunday Service.How full was the building?
By 11, there were around 20 people. It was difficult to tell how many the building could seat – I didn't get a chance to properly scope out the galleries above – but the cosiness of the building made it feel fairly full.
Did anyone welcome you personally?
Several members of the congregation greeted me. I was handed a hymnal and was shown to my pew.
Was your pew comfortable?
The box pews were, as mentioned, lovely, but not particularly comfy, with hard wooden backs and thin baize cushions. 4/10.
How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere?
People were chatting and greeting each other, and asking after absent members of the congregation. It was clear they all knew each other well.
What were the exact opening words of the service?
‘Good morning everyone, welcome to the Ancient Chapel of Toxteth.’
What books did the congregation use during the service?
Everyone had a copy of Hymns of Faith and Freedom, in red hardback.
What musical instruments were played?
There was a CD player with organ backing tracks to the hymns. The building has an organ, but no permanent organist; although after the service, a young woman arrived to practise on it, and I was told she was in training to be their organist.
Did anything distract you?
The chapel smelt slightly, though not necessarily unpleasantly, of dust and damp. It was also quite dark. There were plenty of lights, but it was built in such a way that it didn't receive a great deal of natural light. In addition, the walls were festooned with plaques in tribute to former members of the chapel, which I couldn't help but be distracted by.
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy clappy, or what?
The service was a traditional Unitarian one, if such a thing exists. Broadly, it consisted of an opening address, then readings alternating with prayers, interspersed with hymns, an extended period of silence, and then a short sermon and a benediction. The preacher took the prayers and the readings from what seemed to be anthologies of Unitarian writings. Several of the prayers mentioned the sacrifices prior members of the chapel had made to safeguard liberty of religion and worship in the area, an important aspect of Unitarian history in Great Britain.
Exactly how long was the sermon?
5 minutes.
On a scale of 1-10, how good was the preacher?
6 — The preacher had a broad Blackburn accent, and I briefly wondered what a ‘fur temple’ was and just how Almighty God would make one of me, until I realised he was in fact saying ‘fair temple’, which made a lot more sense.
In a nutshell, what was the sermon about?
The preacher talked about how, in a time of recent personal crisis, he had turned to meditation as a way of coping and to re-centre himself on God. He warmly recommended it to us and gave us a few practical tips.
Which part of the service was like being in heaven?
The pause for silence during the service was lovely, and reminded me of Quaker worship. I also enjoyed the feeling of being connected to a long and storied history of non-conformism, and to the wider history of the city of Liverpool.
And which part was like being in... er... the other place?
The building was a little chilly, despite us being in August. God knows what it's like in the winter. I also found the piped music a bit much, especially the rather grim organ instrumental played during the collection.
What happened when you hung around after the service looking lost?
I was invited to join them for tea afterwards, though they seemed a little introverted, especially by Scouse standards. I was given a warm send-off when I left, however.
How would you describe the after-service coffee?
I had a cup of tea in a paper cup with a plastic holder which had a little handle on it. I've never seen anything like it, and I was charmed. I don't normally drink tea, so I can't comment on how good it was.
How would you feel about making another visit (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)?
7 — I'm not a Unitarian Universalist, but I have a great deal of respect for them, and these seem a lovely bunch of people with a strong sense of social justice. The service was interesting. I didn't know what to expect going in, and I was surprised by how similar it was, at least in structure, to many Presbyterian and Baptist services I’ve attended. The building is also achingly beautiful.
Did the service make you feel glad to be a Christian?
Definitely. I felt a strong sense of God – however you define it – in the congregation and the building.
What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days' time ?
The plaque dedicated to Jeremiah Horrocks, delightfully decorated with stars.