SS Peter and Paul Church

Introduction

SS Peter and Paul Church in Wolverhampton is the oldest Catholic Church in the city. The church was built in 1826-8 by Joseph Ireland in a Greek Revival style, adapted from the chapel of Giffard House in memory of Bishop Milner.

History

The church originated from the former chapel to Giffard House, built by the Giffard family in the late C16/early C17 and opened to Recusant worshippers. From 1804-1826 Giffard House was the home of John Milner, Titular Bishop of Castabala and Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District. Milner asked Joseph Ireland to draw up plans for a new church by extending the existing chapel at Giffard House, and bequeathed £1,000 towards it in his will. The inauguration of the church in 1828 was attended by 60 priests.

Milner was re-interred in the crypt c1930, having originally been interred in the orchard at Giffard House. In 1901 the Sacred Heart Chapel and a Sacristy were added to designs by Edward Goldie, followed in 1928 by the Lady Chapel to the north, designed by Sandy and Norris. In 1962 plans by Wolverhampton Council to demolish the church were dropped. In 1967, as a result of the building of Wolverhampton's new Ring Road, the graveyard to the church was removed.

In 1982 an application for its demolition was called in by the Secretary of State, and subsequently grants were obtained from the local authority and English Heritage for the repair of the church. In 1989 a re-ordering took place: the original High Altar was moved to the side of the nave, with its marble balustrade relocated to the north side chapel, and a simple wooden altar with a wrought iron crucifix was introduced.

The church serves the Catholic Chaplaincy of the University of Wolverhampton. The parish held a Morning of Recollection in St Michael's Hall led by a monsignor. The parish of St Carlo Acutis was founded in December 2020.

Architecture and furnishings

The church is built of stucco with ashlar dressings and a parapeted roof, and has a T-shaped plan. The main south elevation has a projecting two storey re-entrant, a three by three bay sacristy with entrance porch, and a chapel (south transept). The porch has angle pilasters, entablature and a coped parapet adorned with statues of St Peter and St Paul. The nave has a tunnel vaulted ceiling with coffered ribs adorned with roses, resting on flat pilasters with honeysuckle capitals.

The Sanctuary has a coffered dome ceiling with an entablature on pendentives and a lantern with an incised pattern. The Sacred Heart Chapel has a domed ceiling resting on Ionic columns with a central lantern. The Lady Chapel in the north transept is separated from the Sanctuary by a three-bay Tuscan arcade, and has wood panelled walls, a parquet floor and a barrel vaulted ceiling. The original early C19 coloured marble High Altar in Baroque style stands along the north side of the nave, moved there in 1989.

The large stained glass window to the Sacred Heart chapel depicts the Resurrection and is dedicated to the Glory of God and William Stanton (1825-1881). Opposite on the south wall is a large Gothic style brass plaque of about 1826 commemorating Bishop John Milner, probably by Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin. The re-entrant contains a timber staircase leading to the gallery at the west end, with a swept handrail resting on twisted balusters. The Sacristy contains bespoke cupboards and drawers to store the vestments. The crypt was probably also created in about 1928: a door near the Lady Chapel gives access to it.

Sacraments and pastoral care

The parish's Food and Assistance to the Homeless or Needy ministry is called The Good Shepherd Ministry. The parish has a visiting group for parishioners.