On this day in history, July 6, 1957, Paul McCarntey and John Lennon met for the first time at the St. Peter’s Church Hall in Woolton, England; a suburb of Liverpool. John, then 16, was the lead of the band called The Quarrymen, who were performing at a festival there. Paul, then 15, was invited to attend the performance by a friend. 

Both in the afternoon open-sky performance and in the evening indoor session, Paul witnessed John’s remarkable ability. At a break, Paul tuned a guitar and played for the band. John saw in Paul a stand-out talent and passion for music. Soon after, John asked Paul to join The Quarrymen. After years of practice and performances their band, The Beatles, would produce the songs and sound of a generation. 

St. Peter’s Church played another important role in the Beatles’ songs. Eleanor Rigby is buried at St. Peter’s cemetery. Her name gave inspiration to their 1966 song, and it was thought that John Lennon saw her tombstone while visiting his uncle’s grave in the same plot. 

It was not purely by accident that the meeting between Lennon and McCartney happened at St. Peter’s Church. Lennon grew up attending St. Peter’s and was part of the youth choir. Lennon did not go on to use his gift to serve God. However, still today, the worship songs sung by youth and adult choirs of St. Peter’s Church ushers God’s people to encounter His prescense. God created His people to commune with Him over song. 

Psalms are songs written by God’s people to praise Him and connect with Him. God-fearing men and women of the Old Testament sang of God’s deliverance from Egypt and (Ex. 15) and the joy of bringing the arc of the covenant into the City of David (1 Chron. 15). In the Gospels, Jesus sang from the Psalms and declared that even if people would be silent, “‘I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out’” (Luk. 19:40). And in His dying breath, He quoted Psalm 16: “‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!’” (Luke 23:46). The disciples of the Early Church also worshiped and sang psalms as Paul exhorted them to do (Eph. 5:19-20). And throughout eternity, God’s people will be signing praises of God (Rev. 14:3). 

John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s meeting on July 6, 1957 at a church hall was a significant relationship between two talented musicians. However, there are many more significant relationships that have been established through song at St. Peter’s Church: between God and His people. The songs sung to the Lord in faith and love by generations of believers at St. Peter’s will continue into eternity. Do not discount what God can do through singing in church halls.