Post by Becky Payne
A big part of our work in EDP has been to research completed cases of repairs and adaptations to historic faith buildings and identify key themes and tales of caution and inspiration. The two documents prepared by Becky Payne below present the cases of Saint Thomas, Pear Street in Derby and Saints Peter, Paul & Philomena in Merseyside.
St Thomas, Pear Street, Derby
This was a grade II church which prior to 2011 was facing permanent closure owing to the dwindling congregation and a building with very serious repairs issues. A new incumbent grasped a vision of rescuing St Thomas’ Church and bringing it back as a place of worship and a centre for community outreach in a deprived area of Derby. How they approached their engagement with the local community was imaginative and inspiring. They have achieved so much, but it has already taken 9 years and they are still working on it.
Download the short case study
Ss. Peter, Paul & Philomena, New Brighton, Merseyside
This church is known as the ‘Dome of Home’ given its nickname by seamen returning to Liverpool during the Second World War who when, they saw its striking copper dome from the Mersey, knew they had reached home. Closed in 2008 when the building had fallen into severe disrepair, it started its journey to full restoration and re-opening as a place of worship, when the Roman Catholic Diocese of Shrewsbury set up a full repair lease with The Institute of Christ the King in 2011, to reopen the church as a Roman Catholic Shrine. It has taken 9 years, and 4 grants from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to achieve this and importantly the leadership of one determined woman who has led a team of volunteers through the development and implementation of a range of community engagement and activities.
Download the short case study
A big part of our work in EDP has been to research completed cases of repairs and adaptations to historic faith buildings and identify key themes and tales of caution and inspiration. The two documents prepared by Becky Payne below present the cases of Saint Thomas, Pear Street in Derby and Saints Peter, Paul & Philomena in Merseyside.
St Thomas, Pear Street, Derby
This was a grade II church which prior to 2011 was facing permanent closure owing to the dwindling congregation and a building with very serious repairs issues. A new incumbent grasped a vision of rescuing St Thomas’ Church and bringing it back as a place of worship and a centre for community outreach in a deprived area of Derby. How they approached their engagement with the local community was imaginative and inspiring. They have achieved so much, but it has already taken 9 years and they are still working on it.
Download the short case study
Ss. Peter, Paul & Philomena, New Brighton, Merseyside
This church is known as the ‘Dome of Home’ given its nickname by seamen returning to Liverpool during the Second World War who when, they saw its striking copper dome from the Mersey, knew they had reached home. Closed in 2008 when the building had fallen into severe disrepair, it started its journey to full restoration and re-opening as a place of worship, when the Roman Catholic Diocese of Shrewsbury set up a full repair lease with The Institute of Christ the King in 2011, to reopen the church as a Roman Catholic Shrine. It has taken 9 years, and 4 grants from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to achieve this and importantly the leadership of one determined woman who has led a team of volunteers through the development and implementation of a range of community engagement and activities.
Download the short case study
Becky Payne is a heritage consultant and a Historic Religious Building Alliance Project Officer
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