WORSHIPPERS declared yesterday one of “the saddest days in New Brighton’s history” as a popular church closed its doors for the last time. There were no last-minute interventions to avert the closure of Ss Peter and Paul’s as the final Sunday service was held yesterday morning.
More than 350 people filled the church, which stands on the highest point of New Brighton, to hear Fr John Feeney deliver the last sermon.
Despite delivering a service about trust, campaigners who have desperately fought to save the church have claimed all trust between the Catholic authorities and the congregation has been lost.
And campaigners for the group known as SOUL (Save Our Unique Landmark) have vowed to take their battle to Westminster Cathedral and step up their campaign.
Local councillor and SOUL supporter, Tony Pritchard, said: “The congregation have been lied to, people were crying at the service, we’re going to step up our campaign and take a three-pronged approach.”
The group has already lodged a civil legal action and is also trying to use Canon Law (church legislation) to halt the closure.
They have been seeking an injunction through the courts and have lodged an appeal with Catholic authorities at the Vatican, in the belief once the appeal is lodged the church will have to remain open until the Pope makes his decision.
Cllr Pritchard said: “Talks have failed and we’re going to step up the campaign and we hope to join other groups campaigning to save churches across the country.
“We also plan to march to Westminster Cathedral with our petition, which already has 4,000 signatures and 130 people have already pledged to march.
“We are also contacting the Charities Commission to ask them to investigate the use of church funds.”
Campaigners are angry that funds donated over the last decade – thought to total around £350,000 – do not seem to have been used to maintain the church.
Ss Peter and Paul’s was earmarked for closure eight months ahead of schedule under plans by the Diocese of Shrewsbury which include sharing an Anglican church.
From next week, Catholic masses will be held at the Anglican All Saints Church under the controversial sharing agreement agreed with the Diocese of Chester.
The church has become a landmark on the Wirral skyline and became known to sailors as the “Dome of Home” because it is clearly visible to ships entering Liverpool Bay.
Cllr Pritchard added: “This is the saddest day in New Brighton’s history. We’ve already lost a lot of our heritage, we can’t afford to lose an iconic building like this.
“They never once asked the congregation for the money needed for the building work, we could have raised it, we were offered pledges of £10,000 and £15,000.
“This is a popular, wealthy church with a large congregation, we should be keeping it open.
“They have ignored the parishioners and already started stripping out the assets which will make it harder to reopen.
“We will keep on fighting and hope the Cardinal of Westminster will join our campaign.
“Even if the diocese won’t provide a priest, we still want the church open for the community to use.”
Catholic authorities have said that the decision of the Bishop of Shrewsbury to close the church will stand, despite the protests.
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