More than 150 people, including the deputy Mayor of Liverpool Cllr Jane Corbett, attended the induction of the Revd Geoff Felton as Moderator of the United Reformed Church (URC) Mersey Synod.

Other denominational heads including the Rt Revd Paul Bayes, the Anglican Bishop of Liverpool; the Rt Revd Julie Conalty, Bishop of Birkenhead; the Most Revd Malcolm McMahon, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Liverpool; and the Revd Dr Sheryl Anderson, Chair of Liverpool Methodist District joined the celebration held at Blundellsand and Crosby URC on 4 September.

Many people had also travelled by coach from Geoff’s previous church home in Essex. Attendees were split between the main church and the church hall, with masks worn in line with Covid precautions.

Geoff was born and raised in Higher Bebington on the Wirral, where he spent his teenage years before moving away to study. He became a Christian in 1984 at Anfield during Mission England, led by late American evangelist Dr Billy Graham. Geoff worked for six years in the North Sea on various offshore installations as a geologist before attending the London Bible College and Westminster College in Cambridge.

Ordained in 2000, Geoff is delighted to have returned home to the north west to serve the people of Mersey Synod with compassion. He is excited about his new role.

“We live in difficult days, but we have a God who through Jesus Christ is victorious,” he said. “I’m looking forward to leading the Mersey Synod through these post pandemic years – years that will help shape the Church of the future and its witness to a world in need of hope and love.”

_{Published: 8 September 2021}