A LANDMARK Wirral church, closed despite the upset caused to parishioners, could be open “24/7” as a beacon for worship, according to its new priest.

Ss Peter & Paul and Philomena was shut in August, 2008, causing shock in the local community, who immediately set about launching a high-profile campaign to re-open it.

Against the odds – and having taken the fight to the Vatican – that battle was finally won when services at the so-called “Dome of Home” resumed in its day chapel in March, 2011.

It was later announced that the Shrewsbury Diocese had agreed with the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest to work towards establishing a foundation of the Institute at the church, with the intention of providing a centre for the celebration of Mass and the other Sacraments in Latin.

The church’s new priest, Canon Olivier Meney, has now outlined ambitious plans for the church, renamed St Peter and Paul and Philomena, marking the church’s early history.

He said: “The Bishop wants to open the church as a shrine, that is, dedicated to a particular purpose. He wants to promote devotion to the greater sacrament.

“The dream is to have 24/7 public worship in the church, day and night.

“We are going to do that slowly, by steps. It will become a beacon.”

Local campaigner Tony Pritchard, a former councillor who had supported those opposing the closure of the church, said many people welcome the new use of the church.

The church even managed to hold its first midnight mass since 2007, with around 100 people attending, despite relatively short notice.

Mr Pritchard said: “All the hard work the campaigners have done is amazing, to go from completely closed to opening like this, it’s fantastic.”

Canon Meney hopes Ss Peter and Paul and Philomena will be able to be fully opened next spring, with March 25 the current target.

The imposing Grade Two listed building, nicknamed Dome of Home because its massive copper dome was one of the first buildings sailors approaching the port of Liverpool could see, had suffered from not being used, despite the efforts by parishioners to maintain it. Canon Meney said efforts are now under way to see it restored to its former glory, and said: “I am waiting for the report from the architect on the state of the building, so at the moment it is difficult to say what condition the church is in.

“But we have started to clean up the inside of the church, with a lot of ‘elbow grease’.”

Canon Meney has been at the church for just over a month, but said the building inside is “starting to look better and better”.

He said: “It’s a real landmark, no doubt about it, and I dare to hope everyone in the community will be involved with that, not only Catholics but the whole community.”

One of the keys to the re-opening for worship is its use for holding Mass in Latin, unusual in recent years during which Masses have been held primarily in English in the UK, but becoming more popular.