Over the years, the Centre has been home to many different community groups and organisations, some of whom still use the building today, such as the cubs, scouts and beavers groups. Other organisations have moved on and others have moved in, but the Centre has maintained its links with the community in Skelmersdale and is still the home of the Church at the Centre.
Many people ask us why the building is called the Ecumenical Centre, and the answer can be found in the church origins of the building. The term ‘ecumenical’ has been used by the church for many years to describe how different faith groups can try to work together to share in expressing one unified Christian message. And so the name was given to the one ‘house’ where everyone, not just Christians, could meet together...The Ecumenical Centre or just ‘The Eccy’.
The building was designed to be a modern type of church which could be changed around inside to allow it to be used in different ways. It can be used for Christian worship and Church ceremonies but at other times the space within it is hired out to many types of community groups.
Who owns and runs it?
The Centre doesn’t belong to any one church. It is owned by a board of trustees made up of leaders from its member church denominations.
The Centre is run by a group of church members called a Church Council. Jerry, the Centre Manager, takes care of the building and the community work that goes on during the week while the Community Cafe, Charity Shop and Lunch Club are all staffed by volunteers. Many other charitable organisations have their offices here too, and these are staffed by employees of the various groups.
Who pays for it?
A building of this size costs a lot to run each year. The church
members support it by giving their time and money, as in all
churches, but the majority of costs are met by the organisations
that rent the offices, the community groups that hire the spaces
each week/month and of course, the local customers who use the
Coffee Bar, Charity