On Saturday 13 May, the day of the Eurovision Final, a delegation from the Ukrainian government visited Liverpool Parish Church in the centre of the City, just across the road from the entrance to the Eurovision Village. The Ukrainian Minister of Culture, the Deputy Minister of Culture, the Ukrainian Ambassador, and the UK Minister of Tourism met with the Rector of Liverpool, the Revd Canon Dr Crispin Pailing, and Assistant Priest, the Revd Canon Bill Addy. During the visit they discussed, amongst other things, the safeguarding and reconstruction of cultural, religious and heritage assets after conflict. Liverpool Parish Church was largely destroyed by bombing in 1940/41 and was rebuilt after the war under the War Reparations scheme.
Throughout the Eurovision fortnight, Liverpool Parish Church has seen increased visitor numbers as thousands of people have visited the Church and Gardens. In the centre of the Garden two giant ‘Soloveiko Songbirds’ (the larger one measuring 8 metres) have been on display and a variety of other activities have taken place, including the “With Fire and Rage” trail, telling stories of artists on the frontline in Ukraine, and a giant chess set, with regular-sized chess as well, reflecting the Ukrainian love of the game. Throughout the week, chaplains from Mission in the Economy, based at Liverpool Parish Church, were available around the Pier Head.
Following a tour of the Church the visitors went into the Gardens where Olesandr Tkachenko, the Ukrainian Minister of Culture, was beaten at chess by Ukrainian teenager Marek Korsinskij, the senior player champion of the Liverpool Chess Club.