The Guild grew out of the second Mission held in 1957 when Bill Haydock was Vicar. Bill held a meeting soon afterwards to decide follow up activities (as he did with the first Mission when the suggestions made were abortive). However, this time the Guild was born and has flourished ever since. Margery Breckin was the founder of the group. Its aims (still printed on the annual programme of events) are ‘to foster a deeper understanding of the Christian Faith and to promote fellowship and service’. The first meeting was held on 5th December 1957 when the Bishop of Warrington gave a talk entitled ‘What is important?’ This turned out to be ‘an enthralling account of the world wide church’ at which 48 people were present and 37 enrolled.
The discussion afterwards was chaired by Mrs Audrey McCulloch. She was a contemporary of Robert Runcie at St. Faith’s and her son Rev Nigel McCulloch (ordained 17/5/66) was to become Bishop of Wakefield and later of Manchester. His father’s name appears on the war memorial in the Sanctuary at St. Michael’s as having lost his life in the early days of the war whilst serving in the RAF. In the 1960s members of the Guild staffed a car rota to take Audrey to Rodney Street for treatment, a practice that was adopted by other parishes. This is a good example of the Guild’s aim of service to others being put into action. For many years members also provided two teams to help run the Christchurch luncheon club and invited their members to a spring party in the Church Hall. In the 1960s and 1970s St Michael’s had a large number of confirmation candidates each year, sufficient to warrant a service of their own. On the evening of these confirmation services, the Guild provided refreshments in the Church Hall for the newly confirmed, their parents and friends.
The Guild has always met twice a month in the evening in the Church Hall with additional outings. The programme for 1958-9 included illustrated talks on the Holy Land and Liverpool Cathedral, a play reading, a debate (on the subject ‘This house deplores the prevalence of slimming, smoking and swearing’!), a brains trust (with overseas students), a discussion on the subject ‘The Church has little appeal for youth. What can we do about it?’(a combined meeting with Congregationalists, Methodists and Presbyterians), and speakers on the Lambeth Conference, the Hydrogen Bomb, the Prayer Book, work in prisons and the problem of colour. Another debate, still remembered over forty years on, was on the topical subject ‘Was space exploration justifiable or just a waste of money which could be spent on making the world a better place?’
Talks have regularly been given by the Vicar of the day, for example by Bill Haydock, extended to two sessions, on his visit to the USA. Bill was a superb raconteur and must have run out of time at the end of the first session! One of the ways in which the last two vicars have introduced themselves to the Parish has been through talks to the Guild and Paul Conder had a regular slot entitled ‘Conder’s Moments’. A highlight was when Dr Stuart Blanch, Bishop of Liverpool, came to speak on the title ‘Your Questions Answered’ in 1970.
Some traditions have become established such as a Christmas Lunch (formerly, dinner), a Christmas celebration, an annual visit to the Crosby Gilbert and Sullivan Society’s performance at the Neptune Theatre, the Liverpool Welsh Choral Union’s Concert at the Philharmonic Hall, annual coach outings, one for the whole day and another for the afternoon, and a corporate communion service in which Guild members choose the hymns, read the lessons and lead the prayers. Besides these, the 2004-5 programme included speakers on Liverpool Cathedral (by author Peter Kennerley) and the Liverpool connection with the American Civil War, and illustrated talks on Georgian Liverpool, the problem of Israel and Palestine, South Africa and Namibia, RAF Burtonwood and the Salvation Army. There are also talks with demonstrations: on locks (with models by a master locksmith), guide dogs for the deaf (with Dog Harry) and the Jewish Way of Life (with music and artefacts).
In 1976 the Vicar said that Guild was unique in that it was the only adult organisation containing both sexes. In fact there was no adult male organisation and women dominated the Guild. It was also described as a gift for the Vicar as it could be run without him, but this might also be said of the lunches which were, and are, put on in the Hall after the Sunday service on special occasions (see immediately above). The success of the Guild depends largely upon the Secretary who has to devise a programme responsive to the needs of the members. Those who have acted for many years as Secretary have provided invaluable continuity, in particular Madeline Ball (Eric Egerton taking over for her to fulfil her duties as Mayoress), Dorothy Barritt, Ruth Cheall and Joan Hollinghurst to date. The positions of Chairman and Treasurer, now held concurrently by Barry Hunton for many years, have also displayed the same impressive continuity: Godfrey Doubleday was Treasurer for 17 years, and the trio of Frank Price (Chairman, previously Treasurer for four years), Harry Hegarty (Treasurer) and Ruth Cheall (Secretary) formed an unbroken partnership for nine years.
There was a recruiting campaign in the 1990s which led to a fall in the average age, but this has recently begun to rise again. With declining numbers in Church, the membership has maintained its level of about seventy for some years and gives much hope for the future.
Hugh Hollinghurst 