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Saint Philip Neri Church facts for kids

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For the church in Barcelona, see Church of Saint Philip Neri.
St Philip Neri, Catherine Street, Liverpool (1)
Front entrance

St Philip Neri Church in Liverpool is a special place. It serves as the Roman Catholic chaplaincy for university students in the city. This beautiful church has a unique design inspired by Byzantine architecture. It was built a long time ago, between 1914 and 1920.

The church has interesting features on its outside. You can see stone carvings, called friezes, that show scenes like the Last Supper. There are also carvings of Our Lady and the Child Jesus. These carvings include old Latin and Greek words that mean "God-Bearer," which is a special title for Mary. A large stone on the wall also shows the name of Thomas Whiteside, who was the Archbishop of Liverpool in 1916, around the time the church was being built.

The church's story began with a school called 'The Institute,' which opened in 1853 nearby. A famous person named John Henry Newman, who started the Oratorians in England, visited this school. The church and its parish were named after Saint Philip Neri to honor Newman, because Saint Philip Neri founded the first Oratory church in Rome. You can find old records of the church, going back to 1864, at the Liverpool Record Office.

In the 1950s, a priest named Father John Garvin created a beautiful Spanish garden next to the church. He called it 'El Jardin de Nuestra Señora,' which means 'The Garden of Our Lady.' In September 2001, St Philip Neri Church became the official chaplaincy for students from the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University. The church is a very important historical building, listed as Grade II*. It recently received money to fix water damage to its beautiful mosaic tiles.

Inside the Church

The church has six altars, which are special tables used for religious services.

Main Altars

  • There is a main altar in the large central part of the church.
  • The original high altar is also still there.

Special Devotion Altars

  • One altar is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This is a way to show love and respect for Jesus.
  • Another altar is for the Virgin Mary.
  • A side altar is dedicated to Saint Joseph.
  • At the back of the church, there is an altar for Saint Gerard.

See also

  • Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Liverpool

External links

  • https://www.cathchap.org.uk/
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