Construction of the Lighthouse church on Telegraph Road continues. Originally scheduled to open this year, 2023 will hopefully usher in the new building replacing the Church of the Good Shepherd.

Says Heswall Parish: "Shining with the light and love of Christ, the Lighthouse Church will be much more than an Anglican church and place of worship: it will offer welcoming spaces for everyone where community life can flourish; the building alive with established and new activities."

The Lighthouse has a funding obstacle to overcome, filling the gap between money already raised and the total cost of £2.4 million. "We know that this is an ambitious and challenging project, especially in the current economic climate when the cost of living is rising so dramatically. Yet we believe our local community is worth investing in: there are hardships locally and needs in our own community which we envisage being met from The Lighthouse Church. 

"We would therefore like to invite you to share in this vision for the future, to enable completion of this amazing building in time for Easter 2023 celebrations, by giving whatever gift you can, large or small. We would be delighted if you feel able to invest in your community and contribute to the £275,000 we are currently seeking to raise."

Anyone willing to chip in is invited to do so by clicking or tapping here.

Another issue affecting the new church is what might be called an image problem. Planning consent was given in late 2018 to demolish the Good Shepherd, a building which had long been deemed unfit for purpose, and was in an ever worsening state of decay. 

The new structure, designed to embrace a sports hall and meeting rooms, has an ambition to create a much needed youth hub in a town where there are few facilities for under-18s - a place to meet and make friends. These flexible spaces will also cater for toddler groups, fitness activities, conferences, concerts, homework clubs and more, as well as services and prayer.

Part of the Lighthouse design is the 'bold' glass frontage which will be a massive window into the life of the church, and an outward facing device aiming to attract people inside

However, not everyone is happy with the look of the place, which has sparked a lively debate among locals. It's been compared - particularly the rear - to a depot or amazon warehouse, while others have acknowledged that budget restraints meant Heswall was never going to be blessed with an ecclesiastical masterpiece - and that frankly anything can be considered better than the concrete and quirky 1960s eyesore that was razed to the ground.

Whatever, though Parish fundraising continues we can assume the Lighthouse is here to stay, and hope it achieves its laudable aims to serve the community in general and young people in particular.