Liverpool festival that's 'like Glastonbury meets Vicar of Dibley' is back!

A free Liverpool community festival that’s ‘like Glastonbury meets Vicar of Dibley’ is coming back at the end of June.

Rev. Rachel Archer, Rector of Mossley Hill Church, jokingly came up with the description for the first family-friendly event last year which celebrated the church’s 150-year anniversary.

But then a crowd of around 6,000 people turned up and it seemed like a perfect fit.

Now the Mossley Hill Community Festival is about to return on Saturday June 27, with live music, a makers’ market, wellness tent, food traders including local favourite Desserts by Dre, a coffee truck and bars serving drinks and mocktails.

There’ll also be face painting, crazy golf and games for all ages, and donkey rides for kids, as well as a Dog Show so even four‑legged friends aren’t left out!

Rev. Rachel, who’s been rector at the church on Rose Lane for three years, says it’s an opportunity for everyone to come together and enjoy a great day out.

She said:

“I think regardless of people’s faith, we are the church that’s here to serve our community and I’m really passionate about that,” she says. “Our events are welcoming to all faiths and none.

“It really is one of those old-fashioned community events that’s for everybody and not only is it free entry, there’s enough free things to do so families can come and not have to spend any money. Equally there will be things you can pay for so we’ve got that balance.

“We’ll have things for older members of our community, including a wellness tent with different workshops through the day which are free like lacemaking, crochet and chair yoga.

“There’s also a small makers market, and a main stage inside the church where local artists will be performing throughout the festival from 11am to 7pm.

“Chantel, who recently won the C4 programme Your Song, is going to be our closing act on the main stage and she also runs her own business so she’ll be in the makers market as well.”

Rev. Rachel says the Mossley Hill community is very much the focus of the festival, so inside the main church 17 community partners – local organisations and charities – are being given a free table to promote themselves.

She hopes the festival will be one of many annual events which see the church growing its profile as a venue supporting the arts.

“Last year’s festival was our first and we were blown away by the numbers that turned up. Everyone who took part wanted another one this year because it was good for them too and the feedback we had was so positive.

“People were saying how much they enjoyed it and how it really brought the community together. Mossley Hill doesn’t have a natural hub, and we don’t always get the high profile other places get so we thought hopefully this, in some small way, helps community cohesion and it’s just a fantastic day for the local community.”