SPCK and the National Football Museum are working together to create a major exhibition about Christianity and football which will show the surprisingly large part the Church has played in the history of the game.
Much of the research is based on the social history in Peter Lupson's fascinating book Thank God for Football!, published by SPCK.
Amongst many things the exhibition will highlight are that:
Liverpool and Everton sprang from the same church team;
As a mark of respect and reconciliation, the two clubs have jointly restored the grave of Rev Ben Chambers, founder of that first club;
A third of clubs to have played in the Premiership can trace their origins directly to churches and to pioneering church men and women;
Since publication of the SPCK book, Tottenham has erected a tombstone to honour the previously unmarked grave of John Ripsher, the Bible class teacher who was Spurs' first president.
It is intended that the exhibition will show for six months at the National Football Museum, and then tour the country, taking in many towns and cities featured in the book, which include Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Bolton, Barnsley, Southampton and London (especially Tottenham and Fulham). Football fans of all ages, including many school groups, will thus be brought to a connection with the Church that they may never have suspected.
The costs will be high. If you can help us with a donation, of any size, it would be hugely helpful.
