St Philip Neri, Catherine Street
St Francis Xavier, Salisbury Street
St Patrick, Park Place
Three more fine churches, starting with the relatively unknown St Philip Neri, on Catherine Street. Designed by PS Gilby and built between 1914-21, it has a striking Byzantine interior. The church is perhaps better known for its Spanish garden, which was built in the 1950s by the incumbent Dr John Garvey.
St Francis Xavier was originally part of an extensive group of religious buildings which included the former SFX School (now part of Liverpool Hope University). Built to the designs of John Scholes in 1848, it is built in stone in an Early English style of Gothic. The Lady Chapel adjoining the church was added in 1888.
St Patrick’s (1821-27) in contrast, is a strict Neoclassical church. Designed by John Slater, its exterior is lightened by a statue of St Patrick, which came from the St Patrick Insurance Company in Dublin. The huge altar painting is by Nicaise de Keyser of Antwerp (c1834).
Three very fine churches which have survived shrinking congregations and all the other issues facing inner city churches. Two of the biggest problems – vandalism and theft – unfortunately mean that these gems are rarely open to the public, which is a sad loss for a city trying to build up its image as a cultural destination. Open Heritage weeks are fine in a very limited way – but we really should be looking at a more comprehensive policy of opening up such important buildings on a regular basis.
What a lovely image of the interior of St Philip Neri’s. I was christened here in 1956 and my parents’ married in the same church in 1948. Although the church still stands it is now known as the University Church of St Philip Neri. The University of Liverpool erased most of the local streets- we have to be grateful for the token gesture of the Georgian Quarter, and has also felt the need to leave its mark on this church. I remember all the local streets before they became dollops of university concrete.
I was baptised at St Philip Neri in 1970 and buried my mother here in 2002. It has such a connection with me, as does St Patricks, which was my school church.
I guess we should be lucky they are both still standing although, from what I understand St Patrick’s now only opens upon request – now run by the Mount Carmel.
Looking back, as a child, I remember it as a great old church with crumbling white plaster on the walls but I still remember the church bell ringing out, calling us to worship.
Looking at it now? What a great interior, especially the painting above the alter. You’d never guess such a fantastic interior existed behind what is really a mundane brick exterior.
Thanks Colin