Smithdown LitFest

19 Oct 2025

On Friday 26th September 2025, Ullet Road Church proudly hosted the Smithdown LitFest for its ninth year. It feels like only yesterday that Ian Skillicorn sat in my vestry to share the beginnings of what has since become a cornerstone of South Liverpool’s cultural life. Ian has done tremendous work for his community, and to see Sir Michael Palin become part of that story is nothing short of remarkable.

It was a real delight to welcome Sir Michael Palin to Ullet Road Church. I made sure he found a moment of rest in my vestry, where we shared a brief chat and of course, I couldn’t resist a photo together. In the background, you can even spot the eminent Rev. John Hamilton-Thom.

Sir Michael was as gracious and generous as one might hope, giving his time freely to an adoring audience. The church was full to the rafters, and the queue for his autograph was almost as long as my queue for Sunday Service, an opening joke I shared with the crowd as I welcomed them, thanking everyone for coming and teasing that they might have got their days mixed up. It set the tone for a wonderful evening with Sir Michael Palin at Ullet Road Church.

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