Church of St Peter, St Paul, and St Philomena, Atherton Street, New Brighton (Proposed)

In 1926-7 Father Mullins the priest of St Peter and St Paul’s Church Hope Street, New Brighton, approached Edmund Bertram Kirby of Edmund Kirby and Sons to prepare plans for a new church to replace the existing building, albeit without the Bishop’s permission. When the Bishop of Shrewsbury got wind of the scheme and questioned Kirby on the matter in July 1927, he was surprised to find that Father Mullins had given instructions to design a large and grand church, with specific directions regarding its size and character. Kirby estimated the cost of his design at £180,000, which so appalled Father Mullins that he sought alternative advice from Ernest Bower Norris. At a diocesan meeting in February 1929 both Kirby’s and Norris’s plans were tabled. However, it was Norris who received the appointment, so ending Edmund Kirby and Sons involvement in the project.

Reference           The Dome of Home Church of St Peter and Paul New Brighton History and Guide; Editor: Peter de Figueiredo 2014 page 11