Restoration

Restorations update

Shrine success in gaining key National Churches Trust grant

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National Churches Trust (NCT) has awarded a £4868 Foundation Grant to restore 3 corroded steel framed windows at Ss Peter, Paul and St Philomena’s Shrine Church, New Brighton.

This Shrine church, fondly known now as The Dome of Home, is a major landmark overlooking Liverpool Bay for the last 86 years since it was built and is cared for by the Institute of Christ the King. Since 2013, it has undergone five major restoration projects funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund, AllChurches Trust, National Churches Trust and private donations large and small.

While undertaking the redecoration at The Dome earlier this year, three further windows were found to need repairs badly. Scaffolding had been installed to allow access to the high ceiling, but unexpectedly, when the architect examined these high-level windows, the corroded steel frames pushed through. As this was not included in the large National Lottery funded project to restore the dome, drum and main Sanctuary roofs, it was an extra strain on already stretched resources. Thank goodness for this well-timed grant award from National Churches Trust!

The Rector of the Shrine, Canon Amaury Montjean said, “We’re very grateful to NCT for this Providential award. I’m hoping all the work, decorating, lighting scheme and these windows will be completed by Christmas, ready for visitors.”

The Dome of Home has begun a programme of activities to engage a wider audience: from free monthly Heritage Talks in-person or on YouTube entitled ‘Organ music shaped our heritage’; to conferences for conservation professionals; to Liverpool TV films about the Restoration Project; to becoming a Dementia-friendly church with a Postcard Memory Project with schools, the local community and Care Homes to save and archive memories that may be lost.

Canon Montjean added, “The church is open, daily, and welcomes everyone. The Organ Recitals are completely free-of-charge to showcase and explain liturgical organ music.  Next Recital is Sunday 12th December at 4pm. All welcome! We’ve even overhauled the heating system so that it’s warm when you pop in!”

Anne Archer, Project Manager commented, “Many people have happy memories of Merseyside’s own traditional English seaside resort – New Brighton. To celebrate the church’s restoration, we will be launching a Memory Project in January 2020 to collect memories about ’New Brighton: 86 years under the shelter of The Dome’, for local exhibitions, submission to our Guidebook and archived with Wallasey Central Library.”

If anyone is interested in submitting memories of New Brighton in general and/or the church, or helping with the collection and sorting, please email .

The National Churches Trust is the national, non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting and promoting churches of all Christian denominations in the UK.

It aims to:

* Provide grants for the repair, maintenance and modernisation of church buildings.
* Act as a catalyst to improve and bring resources to the management of church building.
* Promote the value of church buildings to the community at large.

 

Appeal: New Lighting & Chandeliers for the Shrine

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Our project to restore the main sanctuary roof, dome and drum has been completed successfully. The church has been decorated in a colour similar to the original 1930s scheme to match the beautiful marble on the main altar. This was largely and providentially funded by a single private donor. Deo gratias!  The contractor will begin to remove the scaffolding at the end of September. 

As you know, the Institute relies on Divine Providence in our undertakings, and to date we have not been disappointed. Many good people have responded to His inspiration to help, so thank you, everyone for your time, prayers, patience and financial donations.

However, during these projects, we realised that to make this church fitting for Our Lord, it was imperative to commission several additional work.

Repair the Sacristy

 

The windows were rotten and roof leaking. This work was urgent, so we instructed the architect and contractor to proceed immediately, but we still need extra funds to pay for this.

Lighting replacement

We must now replace the old, orange lights in the nave and Sanctuary for new lights that are unobtrusive, economical, easy to control and compliment the new decor. The contractor discovered many of the existing lights were broken when he inspected from the scaffold. These fittings can’t be reinstalled so, unless we want a dark winter, we don’t have much choice but to press on. We have only a few weeks left with the ‘bird-cage’ internal scaffold, so we can save money on the installation, if we can raise funds quickly. Our Lighting Designer recommended that the failing lighting installation be replaced with 52 LED floodlights that are dimmable and provide better glare control and better colour rendition. This is not cheap and unexpected.  We need your help!

New chandeliers fittings for the Nave

Have you seen the beautiful sample Chandelier hanging from the scaffold? Such lighting fixture would really enhance our very bare nave, more in keeping with its original Italianate design. This bespoke design in the picture opposite, is made of wrought iron, electrified with 15 LED lights on 2 tiers in an Antique gold finish, manufactured by a company in the South of France. The Latin Mass Society of England and Wales have very kindly donated £10,000 towards this exciting enhancement. But we still need more funds to buy three more!

National Lottery Heritage Fund has already funded the restoration of roofs and windows of the church for approximately £1.2 million but they won’t fund any decoration or lights. We will be contacting our previous funders such as AllChurchesTrust and National Churches Trust for help, but these applications take a long time to complete, and success is not guaranteed.

To download this appeal on a PDF format, please click here
To download the Donation / Gift Aid form, please click here

We rely on your generosity for this last but important phase to give glory to Our Blessed Lord!

Thank you and God bless you all.

Further National Lottery Funding secured

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Our beloved landmark church has been awarded £362,900 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to complete the restoration of the majestic dome and main sanctuary.

This architecturally ambitious basilica, built in 1933, the church dominates Wirral’s skyline, and was nicknamed during the Second World War. Its distinctive green dome has been lovingly known as ‘The Dome of Home’ since mid-20th century, when sailors would see the church from the River Mersey. ‘The Dome of Home’ is one of the last iconic Art Deco buildings to survive redevelopment in New Brighton, whilst still retaining its original function, and continues to open its doors for everyone to enjoy.

Alongside the structural restoration work that will take place, the funding will also ensure that there will be exciting activities to enable specific members of our community to discover this historic gem for themselves. Working with partners such as Williamson Art Gallery, Wirral Borough Council, multiple care homes, community centres, and local schools and libraries, activities including a dementia friendly heritage package, a memory book and heritage talks will be delivered. Other activities include a Reformation Workshop for students, continued professional development for heritage workers, a conference for other churches interested in applying for funding and Heritage Open Day scaffolding tours and lectures. There will be something for all ages and abilities, and all happening in this wonderful building.

Previous projects have been phased since 2013 and supported through the National Lottery’s Grants for Places of Worship programme, restoring two-thirds of the roofs. However, concrete bursting from the Dome ring is putting previous investment at serious risk, and water ingress threatens the historic fabric. During the last project, a large lump of concrete fell onto a repaired chapel roof, confirming urgency. Fortunately, contractors were able to ‘patch’ repair onsite. This new project will cover the Sanctuary barrel roof with a membrane, repoint brickwork, restore steel windows and cast-iron rainwater goods treating the structural concrete problems, making the whole church safe and watertight.

Canon Amaury Montjean from the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest and Rector of the church is delighted. He said: “This is our biggest project yet, which has taken 18 months of careful planning by a committed team of people! Thank you everyone, from the architect and structural engineer, to the wonderful volunteers, supported by prayers to ‘Our Lady of Good Success’ from the congregation. We have a special ‘Thank You cuppa’ for all National Lottery players planned to accompany a recital of church heritage at The Williamson Art Gallery near the end of the project, so watch this space!”


Canon Montjean added, “Match funding is going well, but not yet complete. AllChurches Trust awarded £12.5k in March 2019 for this project and we have received £15k in private donations. We still have another £17k to raise and launch a further fundraising campaign today.”

Project Manager, Anne Archer, was overjoyed with the news. She said, “Our volunteers have worked extremely hard planning this project, proving that we have the capacity to succeed. It is these people who have won this award for our church. The grant will ensure the dome becomes a living, lasting legacy for the New Brighton community.”

David Renwick, Director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: The commitment of the Dome of Home’s volunteers is to be applauded, as is their drive to share the fascinating heritage of the landmark church with the wider community through a carefully considered activity programme. Encouraging communities to discover their history is positive not only for safeguarding the heritage itself but also for increasing wellbeing and strengthening community pride. We are delighted to support this worthwhile project, with thanks to National Lottery players for making it possible.”

The Dome of Home is recruiting more people to get involved in the activities, with the aid of Community Action Wirral. This contributes to helping Wirral become a Dementia Friendly Borough as part of their Action Plan pledge to help older people live well. Anyone interested in helping and joining the fun, please email ”

Diplay at Williamson Art Gallery
Our Memory Book Project

Join us in praying to Our Lady of Good Success!

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Ss. Peter & Paul and St. Philomena submitted the application for a grant to National Lottery Heritage in November and we are awaiting a decision in March.

Last Thursday was our last chance to present our proposed project to our National Lottery Investment Manager and one of the committee who will be deciding whether to fund us. They were particularly impressed with the volunteer contribution during development and the promised contribution of volunteers for delivery, if we get the grant.

The investment manager explained that although some of our activities have a relatively low budget compared to some other projects from councils and museums, that is because of the massive volunteer contribution. Thank you to all who have helped so far, whether through your time, your energy, your sacrifices and your prayers.

The board of trustees will meet at the beginning of March to decide whether we deserve funding. Competition is tough. A novena for the success of our HLF application for our restoration project will be organised at the Shrine from 25th February to 4th March.

To implore the help of Our Lady, we will be saying a Novena. The Novena will be prayed at the end of the Morning Mass on weekdays, and at the end of the 10.30am Mass on Sunday.

A small booklet about the devotion and Novena to Our Lady of Good Success is for sale at the Piety Shop for £5.

Successful Recital at The Williamson

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A very well attended recital took place at The Williamson Gallery in Birkenhead yesterday afternoon

The concert featured a wide repertoire of music and poetry with classical piano, Gregorian chant and sacred music being amonst the feast that entertained a packed crowd in excess of 100 people.

The Sisters Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus together with Helen Neilsen Scott performed pieces that made up a varied programme.

Below are a selection of photography capturing the event.

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[Show slideshow]

11th August: New Brighton Camino Walk

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Sunday 11th August 2-5pm (on St Philomena’s feast day)
Starts behind Bubbles on the prom at Marine Point, New Brighton.

This is a sponsored walk organised by Ss Peter Paul and Saint Philomena Shrine Church to raise funds for the church and for St John’s Hospice, Wirral.
It will take place on The Feast Day of Saint Philomena, on Sunday the 11th August, at 2 o’clock.
The emblem of the Walk is a golden cockle shell to echo the scallop shell emblem of the famous  pilgrim route of The Camino Way.

Route:
The Walk will start on the prom behind Bubbles and will continue along the prom to Vale Park gates and back again, a total of three miles. You can repeat this route to increase your mileage.

Sponsor Forms:
These are available at Ss Peter Paul and Saint Philomena Shrine Church in Atherton St and at St John’s Hospice Charity Shop in Victoria Rd, New Brighton, and online here

Shell Mural:
At Vale Park walkers will have the opportunity to write the name of a loved one inside a cockle shell which will be included in shell murals to be made in the gardens of the church and the hospice.

Dress: 
We are asking all walkers to wear blue as it is the colour associated with Our Lady and also with St John’s Hospice. All walkers will be given a golden cockle shell pendant bearing the anchor emblem of Saint Philomena to wear during the walk.
Don’t forget your sun hat and sun cream or your umbrella and raincoat!

Parking:
All day parking is available in Morrison’s car park at Marine Point and also along the prom. Do Not Park in Bubbles car park, it’s for patrons only and you could be fined.

Toilet facilities:
These are available in Morrison’s at Marine Point, also at Vale Park Cafe

Everyone is welcome:
This is a traffic free, wheelchair friendly route.
Children under 14 must be accompanied by a responsible adult
Dogs on leads are welcome to join us.

Competition for Scaffolding Tours

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Do you fancy going on a scaffolding tour if we get the Heritage Grant? Maybe you have always wanted to see the Dome close up, been part of this church for a long time or even want to take that fantastic photo of New Brighton. Whatever the reason, you are eligible to enter our competition to win a tour around the scaffolding.  

We will have up to 18 places available subject to the appointed contractor’s eligibility and insurance criteria (I.e. a head for heights and fit enough to climb!). To enter, a person must answer the following question:

In 30 words or less, say why the landmark building of Ss Peter & Paul and St Philomena aka the Dome of Home, is important to you?

We need feedback to show National Lottery that our church is very important to the local community. Please get anyone you know who would like to go up the scaffolding to submit their answer either by email to  or post to The Presbytery, 7 Atherton Street, CH45 9LT or simply click here to do online.

Shrine Restoration Progress Report

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The eight months since the ‘Development Grant’ from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF previously HLF) was awarded to prepare our application for the grant to restore the dome and main sanctuary have flown by! NLHF requires us to engage our wider community with our church.  We must have evidence of a need for  proposed activities and be able to assess the outcome to prove they meet that need.  So this year has been a time for piloting our ideas and testing them to see if they meet the NLHF criteria. It has enabled us to see what has and has not worked and to make the necessary changes. The public were consulted via our survey over the winter (over 500 replies).  The following activities were then selected for piloting.

As part of the grant application we must raise some funds ourselves (Match funding)  This is overseen by the ‘Friends of the Shrine’ group (which you are all welcome to join!).  Organized so far:  Summer Fair 29th June, Sponsored Walk 11th August (in conjunction with St John’s Hospice) and the 200+ Club. 

We also have been busy collecting art work for a fundraising calendar which we hope will be on sale by September 2019.  Art work will also be displayed in the Williamson Art Gallery throughout  November 2019 and we will have a recital at the Williamson on 3rd November 2019 – more details to follow. 

As you can see there has been a huge amount of work going on, including writing draft policies which all volunteers will need to follow. These are available via Anne and awaiting final approval.

A heartfelt thank you to all who have volunteered their time and talents so far.  Please keep sending in your volunteer hours to Project Manager Anne –  . If you love the Dome and wish to see it restored, please see what  you can get involved in.  Welcome aboard! 

Saint Peter pray for us! Saint Paul pray for us! Saint Philomena pray for us!

Mayoral Visit to Church

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In connection with the recent launch of our Calendar campaign to help raise much need funds for the restoration of the Shrine, the Mayor and Mayoress of Wirral, Councillor and Mrs Watt visited on Monday 29th April 2019.

Both enjoyed a fascinating tour of the Church and took tea with Canon Montjean and others in the Presbytery after which Councillor Watt said “I’d like to encourage our talented Wirral residents to contribute their beautiful images of the locality for this new calendar initiative. This kind of local support will really help this church gain the funding they need to complete the restoration of the Dome.”