The Campaign

Save Our Unique Landmark was formed as the result of requests from many parishioners to challenge the imposed threatened closure of our Church. S.O.U.L. has its own constitution, has applied for charitable status and legal entity. The Committee is composed of active parishioners with co-opted specialist supporters.

Wirral Councillors have voted their unanimous support to save the Church of SS Peter & Paul. The meeting held at the Town Hall on Monday 16th July 2007 approved the proposal by parishioner Councillor Tony Pritchard, with an amendment by former pupil Councillor Pat Hackett, with all party support.

The Chief Executive is to write to Bishop Brian to request that “the Trustees do not consider any option that would result in the Church being demolished or left to deteriorate”. The Bishop is also requested to acknowledge the opinion and support of all Wirral residents for retention of the Church.

Progress of the campaign.

March 8th 2007

• Campaign went public with much help from Counsellor Tony Pritchard.
• Petition forms.
• Articles and letters in local press.

March 20th 2007

• Parishioners meeting in SS Peter & Paul’s School Hall, by kind permission of Head Teacher Kathy Robertson.
• Options paper presented by Fr Feeney.
• Stated that this had not been sanctioned or even seen by the Trustees.

May 30th 2007

• Open meeting at Hollins Hey Hotel.
• Ian Carruthers kindly gave permission to use his hotel. Many thanks!
• S.O.U.L. Committee mandated by meeting.

June 25th 2007

• Mgr McManus met some members of S.O.U.L.
• This was the first time and so far only meeting we have had with seniority from the diocese.

July 2007

• S.O.U.L decided that some maintenance work had to be done, so organised the cleaning of guttering to prevent further water damage.
• S.O.U.L paid for this work from donations.
• This work was not authorised by the diocese.

July 14th/15th 2007

• SOUL took a stand at the Wirral show.
• Opinions canvassed.
• Petitions signed with over 4000 signatures.
• Radio Merseyside interview.
• There has also been other media interest

July 16th 2007

• Wirral council chamber debate in front of a packed gallery!
• “..Council asks that the Chief Executive write to the Bishop….and opinions of all Wirral residents are considered…and that they consider no options that result in SSPP being demolished or left to deteriorate into a dilapidated state”

July 31st 2007

• S.O.U.L. submitted a proposal for reordering the church building to include;
• Liturgical use.
• Educational uses
• Social and community needs.

September 2007

• Painting of the external wall.
• Meeting with a public relations company.
• Website in the process of being designed.
• Meeting with architects to asses the viability of plate glass screen.

Current Activity

• Ongoing dialogue and correspondence with the diocese which we hope is leading in a positive direction.
• Seeking further documented information from the diocese.
• Paul Hayes has arranged meeting between C/E of WBC and S.O.U.L
• We have written to Cardinal Murphy –O’Connor, who is currently dealing with several specific queries we have raised.
• This may mean an appeal direct to the Congregation of the Clergy in Rome.
• There have been a number of successful appeals which gives us hope.
• If this were to fail, the final route is to the Apostolic signatura – Judicial tribunal of the Holy See – but we hope this won’t be necessary.