It is both a city and a Metropolitan Borough of Merseyside located in England. This city is situated on the eastern boundaries of the Mersey estuary. Founded in the year 1207, Liverpool has enjoyed being the city since 1880 featuring lots of fascinating venues. This has attracted numerous tourists exploring the places making it grow beyond unimaginably greater heights.

The town and its outskirts feature a number of exclusive tourist attraction sites both historic and unhistoric. However, what makes it a favourite tourism venue is not only the wide range of travellers’ spots but also the nature of the landscape, climate and the general scenery of the town.

Football – Anfield Stadium – similar to other countries and cities, this is the most fascinating passion in the city. For all those football fans out there, you are sure of what I’m talking about. Featured also in Liverpool is this great stadium that has unlimited potential of hosting countless fans at any given match. Additionally, apart from hosting top competitions in the English Premier League, Anfield stadium is ranked the 4th best travellers attraction site in the whole of Liverpool. During the day, one of the best clubs in England, Liverpool Football Club opens its door to visitors whenever no games are scheduled to play.

St. Georges Hall – The hall reflects a brilliant architectural work and lies centrally to Liverpool in Hall Street. To visitors and travellers exiting the nearby railway station, it remains an attention grabbing building. Having taken more than 10 years to complete, St. Georges Hall was structured by architect and designer Lonsdale Elmes and officially launched in the year 1854 to the public of Liverpool and the whole of England alike.

Over the years, the hall has been described as the perfect description of its own type and neo classically stylish by the Prince of England. This is because it is conspicuously decorated within magnificent marble pillars, huge chandlers all bound and very fine mosaic. One notable uniqueness about the hall is that the great philosopher Charles Dickens would often give readings inside the building.

Casbah Coffee Club – Also located in Liverpool is this great coffee bar and ranked the number one tourist attraction site in the entire city. This place has taken roots from years back where it was recognized as the true and greatest music phenomenon of the 20th century. It is a favourite venue for musicians and followers alike and those going there have unanimously admitted that visiting the club after a 5 hour ride is truly a gratifying and emotional experience. Besides, it is considered to be the pioneer of all music geniuses in the whole of Liverpool. To all the tourists visiting Liverpool, don’t skip this must-see Casbah House.

Merseyside Maritime Museum – Any traveller willing to explore the fancy port of Liverpool, look no further, Merseyside Maritime Museum is in your locality. This great tourist magnet is a must.

Merseyside Museum is a great day out for you and your family and a treasure house to all of the local residents of Liverpool. However, these are not the only places to come and see, you can also visit Hotel Indigo, Mersey Ferries, Bicentary Dickens Season, and London Carriage works among many others. It is said that Liverpool is a city for those who love culture, come and let’s find out.

Saint Columba URC is located at Hunts Cross, Liverpool and is quite close to Liverpool John Lennon airport. It is a fairly modern church by some standards and its history can be traced back to 1942 when a group of people gathered in a garden shed at a house called ‘Brentwood’ to worship together. They worshipped as Presbyterians and the foundations of the congregation and indeed church started.

Below is a brief timeline history of St. Columba URC Liverpool.

In 1943 the newly formed congregation moved from the garden shed and they moved into a chicken hut which was bigger than the original shed. They stayed worshipping in the chicken hut until 1949.

In 1944 the Rev. Edward Charles Lane was appointed as the minister and the current site of the church was purchased at the junction of Hillfoot Road and Hillfoot Avenue. The church as we know it today could not begin being built however due to wartime restrictions.

In 1947 with the ending of war and rationing a licence was granted to build a semi-permanent church building.

On the 18th June 1949 a new semi-permanent Church opens in Hunts Cross and was named Saint Columba.

In 1951 the Rev. Charles Henry Shaw B.A. was appointed as the minister of the new St. Columba church.

In 1952 the congregation of St. Columba celebrated their 10th anniversary.

In 1953 the registrar-general authorised St.Columba’s for the solemnizing of marriages. The first wedding was held on the 7th March 1953.

In 1955 the 28th Allerton Scout Group was formed in St.Columba’s.

In 1956 the Rev.John Brown was appointed as the minister.

In 1958 the 401st Guide Company was formed in St. Columba.

In 1963 Workmen move onto the site to start building a ‘New Church’.

In 1964 the current Church building of Saint Columba is completed in Hunts Cross and a new minister was appointed in Rev. Frank Glendinning.

In 1967 the congregation achieved the 25th anniversary of its foundation in Brentwood.

In 1967 the 401st Liverpool Brownie Pack was formed at St. Columba’s.

In 1970 the 25 club was formed as a lunch club for older people of the local community under the chairmanship of Mrs.Eileen Blakeley.

In 1972 the Presbyterian Church of England and the Congregational Church of England and Wales agree to unite and form the United Reformed Church.

In 1972 Saint Columba United Reformed Church was formed.

In 1976 the Rev. John Barry Hawksworth was appointed as the new minister of Saint Columba URC Liverpool.

In 1978 the Saint Columba Squadronettes were formed they were a majorette dance troupe. The troupe catered for girls from the ages of 4 to 24. The squadronettes carried the name of St. Columba not only throughout the United Kingdom but also across Europe. The Saint Columba squadronettes won many competitions during the time they competed culminating in winning the European Majorette Championships in Spain and the Majorette World Championships in the Isle of Man.

In 1980 the ’25 club’ celebrated their 10th anniversary.

In 1981 W.Herbert Elliot was appointed as Interim Moderator for St. Columba URC.

In 1982 the Rev. W. Herbert Elliot was appointed as the minister of Saint Columba URC.

In 1993 the Rev. Heather Marjorie Gabbott was appointed as minister.

In 1998 on the 21st February the new Church Hall named ‘Brentwood’ after the original meeting place for the congregation was completed and opened by the URC Mersey synod moderator the Rev. G. Cook.

In 2002 Saint Columba URC celebrates its Diamond Jubilee

In 2008 the Rev. Alan Crump was inducted as minister to Saint Columba URC Liverpool.

St. Columba URC Ministers Timeline

1943 – 1944 Laurence J Farmer (Interim Moderator)

1944 – 1950 Eddie C. Lane

1951 – 1955 Charles H. Shaw

1956 – 1964 John Brown B.Mus

1964 – 1975 Frank Glendinning

1976 – 1981 J.Barry Hawksworth

1981 – 1982 W.Herbert Elliot (Interim Moderator)

1982 – 1983 W.Herbert Elliot (Minister)

1993 – 2003 Heather Marjorie Gabbott

2003 – 2008 In Vacancy

2008 – present Alan Crump

Thomas Russell ‘s name is synonymous with the Lancashire watch making industry and he is an icon for watch purists and enthusiasts around the world. But how he came to become a watchmaker and why Lancashire played such an important role in the watchmaking industry is a fascinating story.

In the 17th century farmers and agricultural workers who needed to supplement their income during the winter months undertook much of the work of watchmaking. In and around Lancashire this was particularly important and the proximity of metalworking, the availability of fine metal tools and the port of Liverpool aided the growth of the industry. By the 18th century watch parts were being sub-contracted to small farms and cottages throughout the region.

Another factor in the growth of this cottage industry were the significant lower overheads that the farmers enjoyed as part-time workers in their own homes. Elsewhere wages were the largest contributor to the total cost of watch manufacturing with the cost of raw materials, apart from gold and silver used in the making of expensive cases, relatively small.

One commentator notes that, “From Prescott to Liverpool, eight miles as the crow flies, the countryside was dotted with the cottages of spring makers, wheel cutters, chain makers, case makers, dial makers – every speciality that went into the making of a watch.” By the end of the 18th century between 150,000 and 200,000 watches a year were being produced by this system, satisfying the national need for accurate timekeeping as the industrial revolution took hold.

The Lancashire sub-contracting system allowed the production of watch movements at such low prices that by the end of the 18th century, the Lancashire manufacturers were supplying most of the great watch firms in London, Coventry and Liverpool. All that these firms needed to do was to make or source their own case and dial, and then assemble the watch.

Thomas Russell joined this hive of activity in 1848 when he moved his business as a watch manufacturer to Slater Street in Liverpool. The city was a major seafaring port and the manufacture of ships’ clocks and chronometers became an important revenue stream for the business.

Thomas Russell’s father, also named Thomas Russell (1780-1830), the founder of this watchmaking dynasty, was born in Eskdale a small village in Cumberland. He served his time in watchmaking in New St. Broughton-in-Furness Lancashire under William Bellman, he then served his journeyman time with William Wakefield in Market St Lancaster where he later started a business of his own in the same street.

He had two sons; one named Thomas was married to Mary in 1831. They also had two sons, Thomas Robert (1833-1894) born in Lancaster and Alfred Holgate Russell (1840-1893). In about 1840 the family moved to Halifax setting up a watchmaking business in Lord St. It was here that Alfred was born.

By 1848 the family had moved once more and records show that Thomas Russell was a watch manufacturer with premises at 20 or 22 Slater Street, Liverpool and later at number 32 in the same street. It was here that Thomas Russell became arguably Liverpool ‘s finest watchmaker and the business produced quality watches and clocks, including the celebrated Russell Hunter pocket watch. Thomas Senior and his oldest son Thomas Robert were granted a Royal Warrant by Queen Victoria indicating their rapid progress in watch manufacturing.

Around 1859, Thomas handed over control of the business to his sons Thomas Robert and Alfred Holgate and the company changed its name to Thomas Russell & Son. Following Thomas Russell’s death in 1867 the business was divided into two; the trade side continued under the same name and was run by Alfred and Thomas ran Russells Limited. The retail business became importers of Swiss watches and music boxes.

By 1877 the company had moved the business once more, this time to Cathedral Works, 12 Church Street, Liverpool, with additional offices at Piccadilly in London and Toronto, Canada. It was now known as the Russell Watch and Chronometer Manufactory and was listed in 1880 as “watch and chronometer manufacturers and machine made keyless lever and jewellery merchants” and additionally, “by Appointment to Her Majesty the Queen and HRM the Duke of Edinburgh and the Admiralty”.

After Queen Victoria’s death, Thomas Russell still signed their watches “Makers to Queen Victoria” even though officially the warrant had ceased with the Queens death. This was tolerated for a time before they removed this from their watches.

Following the deaths of Thomas Robert and Alfred Holgate, Alfred’s son Bernard Holgate Russell and his cousin Thos Townsend Russell took over the company and the name of the business was changed in 1894 to Russells Limited. From this date it appears that they continued as retail jewellers with several branches in Liverpool and, by the early 1900’s, Manchester and Llandudno as well.

Bernard married and had a son Thomas Graham (1906-1999). In 1915 Bernard and Thos Townsend Russell invited Joseph Wright to become a fellow director of Thos Russell & Son. Joseph had extensive trade knowledge, travelled extensively and had business contacts in Switzerland and working experience with the famous American Illinois Watch Case Co.

The sons of these directors all seemed to have worked in and run the business in later years. During WW2 Joseph Wright kept the firm going despite wartime shortages of materials and men until the sons returned from the war. In about 1994 both the retail Liverpool Russells Ltd and the workshops and offices at 12 Church Street closed their doors for the last time.