Parishioners outraged at closure of landmark church nine months early

Jul 8 2008 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

PARISHIONERS last night hit out at an announcement that a Grade II listed and much-loved landmark church in Wirral is to close next month.

Nine months earlier than expected, Ss Peter and Paul’s Church in New Brighton – whose famous dome is visible from across Wirral and Liverpool – is to shut its doors after a Canonical Decree of Closure was issued by the Bishop of Shrewsbury.

The decision was condemned by local councillors who had supported the Save Our Unique Landmark (SOUL) group set up to campaign to keep the church open.

The SOUL committee will meet tonight “with a very short agenda” and will be considering options to try to keep the church open.

Last night, SOUL committee member Paul Murray said he understood Canon Law allows them 10 days to respond to the bishop’s decree.

He was also highly critical of the way the diocese had handled the closure of the church, and said he believed the congregation “had been treated very discourteously”.

Mr Murray said the church’s own consultation had shown most people favoured keeping the church operating.

In a letter read out to congregations over the weekend, Bishop Brian Noble told church-goers that modification of the present building would cost £700,000 plus the £888,000 already required for repair work.

He said: “Undoubtedly, this is news you were hoping you would not hear. I know from experience elsewhere in the Diocese just how painful you will find this decision – and that, I understand.

“However, in spite of contrary points of view – I do consider the decision to be necessary and appropriate.”

The Catholic Diocese of Shrewsbury announced that a sharing arrangement had been negotiated with the Anglican All Saints Church, on Hoseside Road.

Rev John Feeney, parish priest of Ss Peter & Paul’s, said: “While change is always a little difficult, I see the future for the Ss Peter & Paul parish as full of possibilities.”

Explaining the reason for announcing the closure before the “two-year period of investigation has run its course”, the bishop gave two reasons.

Firstly, he said he was “satisfied that the reasons leading to our decision would remain unchanged in 12 months’ time”, and added: “Secondly, given the divisions in the community to which this issue has given rise, it seemed pastorally desirable to resolve the matter sooner rather than later.”

Paul Hayes, Conservative councillor for Wallasey, claimed the decision to close the church so quickly was “because campaigners have been asking them too many awkward and embarrassing questions”.

Cllr Hayes said: “Decisions have been taken behind the scenes and in the shadows, parishioners have been treated with utter contempt.”

And New Brighton councillor Tony Pritchard called for the trustees of Ss Peter and Paul’s – including the bishop – to step down.

He said: “They say it was to try to stop the divisions in the parish, that is a load of rubbish – the vast majority of people want the church to remain open.

“They have been in discussion with All Saints while at the same time talking to us about the future of the church.

“And this comes just two months after the Vatican wrote saying there were ‘no current plans’ to close the church.”

The church has given no indication what the future holds for the historic building, although last year developer Urban Splash was rumoured to be interested in the prominent site.

liammurphy