Community Stories

The Tab was built in this place to be in the middle of Toxteth, and to welcome and serve people from all parts of its community.

When it was built, 80% of the country identified as Christian, with nearby houses and streets still under construction. Toxteth has built up considerably over the years, with schools, healthcare, shops and other organisations serving the community. It has also become more divere; culturally and economically. Although the Tab’s primary way of serving the community is to share the life changing news of Jesus as our saviour, it has followed after God’s heart, and Jesus example, for this to go hand in hand with loving and serving others.

In its early years, Temperance Society meetings were set up, which included live music and a talk, and breakfasts were served most days to those in need. The Life Boys (11th Liverpool team), had an action packed itinerary, including swimming and cricket in the summer, and The Boys Brigade, amongst its activities, had its own band. The Tab ran various sports clubs for young people and adults, including a cycling club and football teams. The Christmas Gift Service in the 1950s collected toys to be shared with those in need and the Tab hosted dinners on Christmas Day. During this time, the Tab also opened a care home on Hartington Road. Various fellowships and meetings were open to everyone and by the 1980s, the Ladies Meeting was renamed ‘Friends and Neighbours’ and led by dedicated leaders Mrs Gillott, Joyce Toothill and Joyce Ritchie. It offered friendship bible study, care and social activities.

In the late 1980s, the church engaged in a local survey of 300 homes to understand community needs. The No 1 requirement was for a playgroup, which after much prayer and faithful work, was set up in 1990 (with the Sparklers mums and tots group continuing to run too). This developed into a formal Preschool by 1999, and alongside this, the Tab was able to offer parents training in NVQs, time in the school, access to job training and a listening ear. Stepping Stones Coffee Shop followed in 1992 and at its height was packed every day. Pastor Terry Jones, in his 12 years report in 2001, noted, “Where prayer is sought, it is offered… Where truth is needed there are tracts, bibles and videos. Banter is frequent. Laughter is present. Service is key. God is, at times, doing His work in all manners of ways, recognised and not!”.

In response to the high levels of school exclusions in the early 1990s, the Tab also developed a vision for a Pupil Referral Unit (PCU) to be run out of the Tab basement. God’s provision through financial partners, the work of faithful Tab members, and others called to Liverpool, led to three years of development and finally the opening of the ‘Level 3 Skills-School’. The church set up a separate charity, Toxteth Vine Project, to manage these community projects.

Into the 21st Century and as the Vine Project activities began to wind down, it was the kids work of the Tab that reached most into the community. Tab Kids Club and Summer Kids Club, followed by Friday night Youth Club were faithfully resourced and enthusiastically received. Weekends to Wales and a young people’s small group developed out of this. (see Welcoming Children and Families Stories). Tabfest and Christmas Tabfest developed as a fun, outreach time for the church and community together, with highlights including the pop-up Christmas photobooth, and sharing live music (and BBQs!), from the Tab steps. During the Capital of Culture year, the Tab put on ‘08 in L8’ events, including poet and performer, Jude Simpson.

The Tab has partnered with many other churches and organisations, in Toxteth and beyond to serve it’s community. During the 1990s, Careforce workers, including Iesah, Pete, Jo, Kate and Amy, came to the Tab for a year of service, a number of whom stayed and made Toxeth their home. Other groups came for a week to help decorate, serve on mission teams or provide finance and expertise. We remain thankful for their friendship, their trust in God and their care for the Toxteth Community.

In recent years the Tab has partnered with Toxteth Women’s Centre (TWC) to provide a venue for English (ESOL) classes in Toxteth, beginning in the basement (a place where many TWC supporters attended youth group and became Christians!) and now provided in the main church space, with creche in the old pre-school hall. The women who attend also enjoy other activities on site, including badminton, tennis and Zumba. ‘The Journey’ is a linked project where the church and TWC supporters together provide Saturday night parties for female asylum seekers and other internationals, and their children. Dancing, craft, conversations and food are enjoyed and relationships built.

The Tab continues to pray for its community and look to serve it, mindful of the increasingly difficult times. Since lockdown, different community members have enquired about using the building, something we are working towards as we repair and restore it. We continue to look to God how we can best use all He has given us to serve the Toxteth Community. We are beginning by opening the church as a warm hub on Monday mornings. You would be very welcome to join us.