Mission Church
The Mission Church, designed by the famous Lancaster architects Paley and Austin, was opened in 1894 to serve the religious needs of the community. It was paid for by the church and by public subscription including the fishermen of the Point.
A grade 2 listed building, ownership has now been generously transferred by the Church of England to the residents of Sunderland Point in the form of a trust with the intention of it becoming an assembly room and heritage centre celebrating Sunderland Point.
Inside the Mission Church as it was not so long ago. The first service was Holy Communion at 08:30 in the morning on Sunday the 2nd of November 1894. At the afternoon service on the same day over 140 squeezed into the Mission Church. The collection raised the splendid sum of £7. 10s. 0d, which was put towards the repayment of the debt of £30 from the building works. The Mission Church was finally free of debt after a 3 day - one at Overton and two at Sunderland Point - sale of work raising the princely sum of £16.
Below, recently discovered in the Lancashire Archives, is the original certificate signed by the Bishop of Manchester, allowing divine service in the Mission Church, dated 22nd of October 1894
PR 3273-14-7. Reproduced with permission from Lancashire Archives, Lancashire County Council.