Churchtown was the principal village in the town-ship of North Meols. The cottagers were fishermen, farmers and weavers; it is said that " in almost every cottage might be heard the click of the weavers shuttle." Cotton weaving began in the district at the end of the 18th century and was replaced by silk weaving in the 1820's.

St. Cuthbert's was the parish church. It was almost entirely rebuilt in the 1730's, enlarged in 1861 and further alterations were made in 1908. Before there was a church at Birkdale the residents who walked to St Cuthbert's travelled along Churchgate, part of which is still so called.