St Peter, St Paul & St Philomena

A major landmark at Wirral’s tip, the Dome of Home is visible from Liverpool to Llandudno in North Wales.

New Brighton, Merseyside

Opening times

Open daily 8am until 8pm for visits and personal prayer.

Enjoy the fascinating story:
Book now for volunteer led guided heritage tours,
Or follow the new children’s audio tour. Step back to WWII when the Dome earned its nickname with 1940s hats and snack provided!

Address

Atherton Street
New Brighton
Merseyside
CH45 9LT

It was the vision of a remarkable parish priest, Fr Thomas Mullins, who trained at the English College in Lisbon before returning to New Brighton, then a fashionable and expanding seaside resort with a growing Catholic population. Fr Mullins raised the money locally to build his great parish church.

Inspired by the Sacred Heart Basilica in Lisbon, it was designed by E Bower Norris and opened in 1935. Architecturally it owes much to Lutyens' famous but ultimately unexecuted design for Liverpool Cathedral, the crypt of which was being constructed across the Mersey at the same time. The debt to Lutyens is evident in the use of brick with spare stone dressings and in the design of the domes, particularly the two which flank the west end.

The church is built in a Roman baroque form and whilst the nave is plain the high altar is designed of beautiful Italian marbles the colours of which reflect the 1930s fashion for subtle pale greens and cream colours.

By contrast, the Lady Altar has a strong blue lapis lazuli front and the Sacred Heart altar is fronted with red stone. Fr Mullins brought a number of beautiful 17th century Portuguese statues to the church, that of the Virgin being particularly fine.

During the Second World War the church became known as the Dome of Home by sailors returning from the Atlantic convoys. Once the dome was spotted they knew they were safe from the German U boats.

The church was closed in 2008 because the cost of repairs was considered too great. A major local campaign was launched to save the church and in 2012 the Bishop of Shrewsbury established the church as a national Shrine Church dedicated to the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. He invited the Institute of Christ the King to care for the church and begin its restoration. The Institute is an international order of young priests who celebrate the Mass in the Extraordinary Form (Tridentine) and daily sing Offices in Gregorian Chant. In heritage terms, the services here are identical to those carried out when the church was built.

  • Spectacular stained glass

  • Social heritage stories

  • National heritage here

  • Glorious furnishings

  • Famous connections

  • Enchanting atmosphere

  • Captivating architecture

  • Wifi

  • Train station within 250m

  • Space to secure your bike

  • On street parking at church

  • Level access to the main areas

  • Level access throughout

  • Church shop or souvenirs

  • Accessible toilets in church

  • Monthly Youth Group, Monthly Family Days, Embroidery & Sewing group, Monthly Adult Faith Formation, Piety Shop, Polyphonic Choir, Gregorian Chant weekly choir, New Friends of SsPPP.

  • Catholic Church

  • Repair Grant, £10,000, 2016

  • Our Repair Grants funded urgent repair work to help keep churches open.

  • Repair Grant, £20,000, 2015

  • Our Repair Grants funded urgent repair work to help keep churches open.

  • Repair Grant, £10,000, 2013

  • Our Repair Grants funded urgent repair work to help keep churches open.

Contact information

Other nearby churches

St James

New Brighton, Merseyside

St James is a Grade 2 listed Victorian Gothic church, designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, which has the tallest spire in Wirral.

English Martyrs

Wallasey, Merseyside

English Martyrs church, designed by architect Francis Xavier Velarde, opened in 1953 but the history of the parish goes back to 1902.

Our Lady Star of the Sea & St Joseph

Wallasey, Merseyside

A grade II listed building, designed by Edmund Kirby and consecrated in 1889 to serve the parish community of Seacombe in Wallasey.