St Anne - Rock Ferry

Introduction

The church's foundation stone was laid by Bishop James Brown on 29 May 1875, and it was blessed and opened by Canon James Hilton V.G on 29 July 1877.

History

The church was constructed in 1875-7 to the designs of Edward Welby Pugin, his final ecclesiastical commission before his death in 1875. The extensions to the church were dedicated by Bishop Moriarty on 29 July 1934. The church was run and served by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate until it was handed over to the Shrewsbury Diocese in 2010. The parish was handed over to the Diocese in 2010 with a first Diocesan Parish Priest serving until 2014.

Architecture and furnishings

The tabernacle is of alabaster with a polished brass door set with cabochon rock crystals, surrounded by Old Testament scenes carved in low relief. The design of the reredos is typical of Peter Paul Pugin's 'Benedictine' altars with a prominent central throne above a tabernacle for the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. The altar rails were designed by Charles HC Purcell, a grandson of AWN Pugin and a partner in the family firm, Pugin and Pugin, and were erected in 1932.

The church is tall and cruciform in plan with the chancel at the west instead of the usual east. The barrel-vaulted roof over the nave has five diaphragm arches resting on stone shafts with carved capitals and angel corbels. The walls of the sanctuary and chapels are faced entirely in local Storetin stone. When the low flat-roofed aisles were added, in 1934, sections of the lower nave walls had to be removed and some of the windows reduced in height.

The font was dedicated to the honour of the English Martyrs and was moved to the front of the church between the sanctuary and Saint Joseph’s altar in the 1960s. The octagonal font is made of Derbyshire alabaster supported by thick columns of the rouge royale and Irish green marble with a base of brown Belgian marble.

The Lady altar was blessed in Oct 1888. The whole of the work is in Caen stone and English and foreign marble, and the carving is by RL Boulton. The floor of the Lady Chapel is paved in blue, red and buff encaustic tiles.

The organ was installed and blessed in 1900, built by Messrs, Abbot Smith of Leeds. The pitch pine case was designed by Peter Paul Pugin.

Music and liturgy

The organ is a three manual instrument with swell, choir, and great divisions. The parish has a Liturgy Group formed to support clergy in preparing and celebrating liturgy. The Liturgy Group includes representatives from sacristy, reading, altar serving, Eucharistic ministers, musicians, catechists, and flower arranging. The parish has Extraordinary Ministers of the Word who read Scripture passages at each Holy Mass.

The parish has a Children's Liturgy program with friendly catechists. The parish has a Hospitality Team that serves tea and coffee after Sunday Mass. The parish has an SVP group that works with those of Saints John and Luke to support people in need. The parish has Altar Servers who volunteer to assist the priest or deacon during Mass.

Parish life

The parish has a Flower Group whose members adorn the church with flowers according to the seasons. Parishioners bring in food for the Wirral Foodbank, with a box at the back of the church.

The parish offers supported preparation for sacraments for children who do not attend the school. A Piety Shop offers Mass cards and sacramentals to visitors.

Sacraments and pastoral care

The parish conducts wedding ceremonies, either a full Nuptial Mass or a simpler service outside Mass. The parish provides Holy Communion to housebound, care home, or hospital patients upon request. The Sacrament of the Sick can be requested through the church for those who are ill.