Parishioners, family, friends and fellow clergy gathered to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the ordination of Fr Grant Maddock, giving thanks for three decades of faithful priestly ministry in the Archdiocese of Liverpool.

Ordained to the priesthood in July 1996, Fr Grant began his ministry at St Margaret Mary’s before serving at Christ the King. He is now parish priest of Our Lady’s, Lydiate, where he also serves as Dean of the Sefton Inland Deanery.

Alongside his parish ministry, Fr Grant is well known across the archdiocese as Pilgrimage Director for the Archdiocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes. In 2025, he received the rare honour of being named a Chaplain to the Shrine at Lourdes during the Mass marking the official recognition of the miraculous healing of Liverpool pilgrim Jack Traynor.

Reflecting on the anniversary celebrations, Fr Grant thanked everyone who had joined him for the occasion.

“I have no words to express the immense beauty and privilege of the celebrations for my Pearl Anniversary,” he said. “So many people gathered to praise the Lord, to give thanks for Ss Peter and Paul, and for my frail service of the Lord and His Church.”

He also expressed his gratitude to all those who had supported the celebrations through their prayers, cards, gifts and hospitality.

“Thank you to everyone who made the day so special—through your love, your prayers, your kind words, cards and gifts, and to all those who baked, in the horrendous heat of this past week, the most fabulous cakes! There are so many to thank, and today, as I spend some time in prayer, I will be holding each one of you before the Lord.”