Our Lady Star of the Sea - Ellesmere Port

Introduction

Our Lady Star of the Sea in Ellesmere Port is a red-brick Romanesque-style church that opened on 12 October 1931. Before the permanent church, a temporary corrugated-iron church, known as the "tin church", opened on 21 March 1909 with Father E.D. Kirby as its first priest.

History

Construction of the permanent church began in 1930. In 2007, the Diocese of Shrewsbury established the Ellesmere Port and Hooton Local Pastoral Area, uniting Our Lady’s, St Bernard’s, St Saviour’s, and St Mary of the Angels in a collaborative structure. In 2022, a single parish priest was appointed to serve the entire Ellesmere Port and Hooton area.

Parish life

The parish runs a weekly hot meal café and a weekend food bank to assist those in need. The parish supports displaced individuals through the Refugee Assist program. The parish is working to resume The Bread and Butter Thing, which provides affordable food options.

The parish has a St Vincent de Paul Society for compassionate outreach. The parish supports CAFOD and its work for global justice. The parish is supported by the Order of Malta in its charitable outreach.

The parish offers dedicated pastoral care through home visits and regular administration of Holy Communion to those in care settings or their own homes. The parish runs a 'Come As You Are' group that meets every Tuesday for conversation and community. The Social Events Committee, formed in September 2023, raised £1,842 for the parish in 2024.