Saint John's Church, Tuebrook

This month’s visit to Liverpool had me call at the Church of Saint John the Baptist, Tuebrook. Although not a particularly old church, dating only to the 1870s, this building is famous for the complexity and richness of its interior design, its furnishings, its ritual and its elaborate style of worship.

I alighted from the bus right outside, and was pleased to see folk tending the grounds and also a sign describing the place as open. Upon entry, however, I beheld a richly attired clergyman celebrating communion in a side chapel, and three elderly communicants observing and occasionally participating in his ministrations. Out of respect, I sat at the very back and waited for it to finish before I took my photographs. There was bell-ringing, chanting, reciting, kneeling and the hailing of Mary. It was not my favoured style of worship, nor, I think, that of the New Testament, but I resolved to be a respectful guest.

It seemed that every wall, every pillar, every space of the ceiling, was covered in paint, or velvet or some gaudy artwork. It was a veritable feast for the eyes. I suspect that sermons here are fairly short and not too taxing to the brain, but should a preacher ever prove to be overly complicated or longwinded, then the gorgeous colours, textures and images would combine to offer suitable distraction. A Protestant Dissenter like myself might object to such ‘popery’, but it certainly suits the taste of many others.

I noticed, however, that much of the paintwork was peeling. For want of funds or time, the constant repairs and restorations which a flamboyantly decorated building demands cannot always be met. Behind the veneer of gold, or green or crimson paint, was plain plaster, and beyond that, the dull stone.

I dare not say that high, Anglo-Catholic worship is insincere or hollow; indeed, many such churchmen are more faithful to orthodox theology than their light-weight colleagues of the Low Church. But ritualistic worship is always in danger of being outward ceremony with no inner witness; a complicated routine or script which is little more than playing a role or acting a part. God sees the heart and the motives and thoughts; He can tell if our worship is a thin coat of piety rather than a heart-felt wellspring of the soul.

Jesus said unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor at Jerusalem worship the Father...But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and Truth: for the Father requireth even such to worship him. God is a Spirit, and they that worship him, must worship him in Spirit and Truth. John 4: 21, 23-24, Geneva Bible