Mossley Hill Remembers

Remembrance Sunday 2025

On Remembrance Sunday, we come together to remember all those who have died in war and in service — both military and civilian.

We gather in a church that itself bears the scars of conflict. The first phase of the Merseyside Blitz began on 17 August 1940 with a raid on the docks, and on 28 August 1940, the impressive Anglican parish church on Rose Lane, Mossley Hill was seriously damaged. This was the first of many churches — including Liverpool Cathedral — to be bombed.

During the Second World War, this church became the first church in Britain to be damaged by enemy bombing, on the night of 28–29 August 1940. All the stained glass windows were destroyed, including designs by William Morris and Henry Holiday. The church was later restored between 1950 and 1952 by Alfred Shennan, with a new church hall added in 1975, designed by Donald Buttress.

Photographs taken in January 1941 show snow inside St Matthew and St James Church, Mossley Hill, following the devastation caused by that raid. Many large churches were used as air-raid shelters, which only increased the danger for those inside.

Merseyside was one of the most heavily bombed regions outside London. Liverpool’s port made it a vital lifeline for essential imports of food, fuel, and materials, and a key centre for naval repair and coordination during the Battle of the Atlantic — making it a prime target for the Luftwaffe.

As recorded by the Museum of Liverpool, local residents such as Valerie Williams Nimmo, who was six years old during the May Blitz of 1941, recalled the terror of those nights:

“My lovely Wendy House at the bottom of our garden at 20 Craigmore Road, Mossley Hill, received a direct hit during the May Blitz, 1941. We were in our air raid shelter nearby at the time and heard and felt the terrible bombardment. My little house went up in flames, but thankfully it was saved by my father, Henry Nimmo (who had built it), and his fellow ARP wardens.”

(Source: Museum of Liverpool – More Stories from the Liverpool Blitz)

During our Mossley Hill Church Remembrance Service, we read aloud and remember the names of Mossley Hill residents who lost their lives in service, honouring their sacrifice and ensuring they are never forgotten.

As war once again rages today in Europe and across the world, we gather to remember those who have fallen and to pray for peace — in our time, and for generations to come.