THE FUTURE of a landmark Wirral church has been raised at Vatican City. Campaigners are worried that the Catholic diocese of Shrewsbury intends to demolish Ss Peter and Paul in New Brighton and sell its prime hilltop site overlooking Liverpool Bay to developers.
Earlier this week campaign group SOUL - Save Our Unique Landmark - were claiming victory after receiving a letter from the Vatican confirming there were "no current plans" to close the church.
Wallasey councillor and SOUL member Cllr Paul Hayes said: "This is fantastic news. The Vatican's intervention is very welcome indeed.
"I'm delighted that a building which has played such a huge role in Wirral's cultural and religious heritage will keep its doors open to the faithful of Wallasey and New Brighton.
"We will now be looking to the diocese to allow its parishioners to access its own funds for building repair work so that the parish will be provided with proper social facilities.
"I hope this action by the Holy See means we can now work constructively with the diocese to ensure the future of Ss Peter and Paul as a magnificent, awe-inspiring place of worship."
But the Globe understands that the wording of the letter from Vatican undersecretary Monsignor Giovanni Carru is largely ambiguous - and as such, the possibility of closing the church remains real and still very much on the "consultation" table.
Rev John Joyce, who acts as spokesman for Brian Noble, the Bishop of Shrewsbury, said: "The under-standing of the words no current plans', in the context of Roman correspondence, are canonical, and as such simply acknowledge the present position.
"That is, the Bishop has not issued a decree - a canonical requirement - to close the church, and until that is issued, no current plans' describes the situation. No decree has been issued because the diocese continues its negotiation and deliberations over the future of the church."
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