According to a BBC TV Panorama programme the future of the Church of England seemed bleak and so presented me with a challenge in 1971 when I embarked on 'planting' St Paul's, Blackbrook. I had begun my ordained ministry in the diocese of Chester at Michaelmas 1968, but now a fresh challenge was ahead. The Liverpool diocese launched a number of team ministries in accordance with the Pastoral Measure of 1968. In July 1971 I became a vicar for a church that was yet to be built in a team ministry that was yet to be formed. The new rector recruited two clergy to be of incumbent status and with him to be the vicars of the three churches, his being the century old parish church. The district allotted to me had a population of 10,000 and there was to be a multi-purpose building erected. In the meantime, with a grant from the diocese we bought a 24' x 12' shed and put this on the site.

The chief advantage of my special circumstances was that I was immediately compelled to have a vision based on the entire population rather than a small congregation. To begin with there was no congregation, although helpers soon arrived to assist in the building and furnishing of the red, white and blue hut. My perspective was shared with a band of willing workers, who together planned the new building and reached out for young and old. Children were catered for with clubs based on C.P.A.S. Explorers and Pathfinders. The church began in September 1971 with Holy Communion services alternately Morning or Evening every Sunday. Baptism, Morning and Evening Prayer services were held, and every Sunday morning the Pathfinders met at 11.15. Family Worship was launched a year later.
Planning ahead meant not only discussing what kind of building we needed to meet the needs of our population but also providing Confirmation preparation for adults in the hut so that the new church would have more leaders.

The focus of my own mind on the 10,000 population was naturally shifted as we became more than a small team in the hut to being a larger team running a variety of groups in a multi-purpose church. However, I realized that this original vision was worth fostering because it meant attention to the whole parochial responsibility and not just on the needs of those who happened to attend the church. This was particularly important when promoting a mission oriented outlook not only concerning local matters but also in supporting the wider church at home and overseas. Much later I began to realize when I became Vicar of Weston with a long history of previous incumbents, I could not always count on a team sharing my own focus on the whole parish population. Nevertheless, my experience in Runcorn showed me how important it is to still have such a vision. Otherwise clergy and people become church-centred and neglect their parishes.