NEARLY 400 townsfolk attended the special NSPCC Centenary Commemorative Service at St Helens Parish Church on Sunday, April 28 - almost 100 years to the day since the St Helens branch was founded.

Special guests included the Lord-Lieutenant of Merseyside, Alan Waterworth, a vice-president of the Centenary Appeal, and Mrs Waterworth; David Pilkington CBE, honorary president of the appeal; and Mayor of St Helens, Councillor Keith Deakin, a vice-president.

The service was specially devised by the Rev. Christopher Byworth of St Helens Parish Church to focus on children through the ages.

Introducing the services, NSPCC appeal chairman Mrs Elsie Roberson, said: "Today is the celebration of the work that began 100 years ago here in St Helens and it is also a time to reflect on the plight of children today.

"Times have, of course, changed since the branch was founded in 1896. Child labour, deprivation and starvation may have been all but eradicated - but abuse, cruelty and neglect have not. Today's problems can, and do, lead to drug addiction, juvenile crime, child prostitution and even suicide."

The service, conducted by Rev. David Moore of the parish church, was truly interdenominational with Father Mark White of St Anne's Sutton leading the Act of Penitence, and the Rev. Colin Critchley, a chartered child psychologist and the Bishop's Adviser on Child Protection, delivering the sermon.

A focal point of the service was a presentation by children of the church school on the changes over the past 100 years. The two to five-year-olds and their teachers had researched key events in the borough in 1896 and, dressed in period costume, presented a selection of songs and words; the six to 12-year-olds presented their interpretation of Sunday School in the 1950s; and the youth group looked at children in Christianity today.

"The Church has a key role to play in the welfare and happiness of children and their families," commented Rev. David Moore.

"We were very pleased to host the Centenary Service at St Helens Parish Church and to be associated with the NSPCC, both in the founding of the branch in 1896 and in the special commemoration of its work nearly 100 years to the day since then."

Later, 90 people stayed for a four-course luncheon in the parish rooms. At the conclusion of the lunch, everyone involved in the appeal surrounded the special Centenary Cake - lit with 100 candles and bearing the special logo designed by 10-year old Cheryl Parrott of Thatto Heath Community Primary School for the centenary appeal.

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