THE ongoing restoration of a landmark Wirral church has received a boost of £38,900 from the Heritage Lottery Fund

It will enable the project team at Ss Peter, Paul and Philomena's Church in New Brighton to continue the repair to roofs, brickwork, internal plaster work and develop a community space.

The project will provide a glass screen below the choir loft to make the narthex into a usable community space.

An interactive kiosk and information desk in the church porch will enable visitors to access a live stream webcam showing views from the roof of Liverpool Bay and allow memories and personal heritage information to be submitted easily to help them engage with the history, art and architecture.

The total cost of the project is £250,000.

The building of the Church of Ss. Peter, Paul and St Philomena in the 1930s was intended to serve as a beacon for the Christian Faith in Merseyside.

Inspired by their parish priest Father Thomas Mullins, the Catholic population of the rapidly growing seaside resort of New Brighton raised funds for a hill top basilica that stands as a striking landmark at the entrance to the Port of Liverpool.

Its nickname, Dome of Home, dates back to the Battle of the Atlantic in World War Two, when sailors would recognise they were close to the port of Liverpool when they could see the Church from the Mersey.

Canon Amaury Montjean, French priest and rector of the Shrine Church, was delighted.

He said: "Last week the contractors completed high level restoration work for our first HLF project. The main barrel roof has been insulated, covered with a waterproof membrane and an accessible toilet installed at the back of church.

"This means that the church will be a little warmer and drier next winter, but there is still a lot more work to do.

"This week we learned the wonderful news that HLF will fund a second project to continue the restoration of this iconic landmark, a beacon of hope for future generations."

On Friday, Peter Woods, deputy Lord-Lieutenant, representing Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Merseyside, Dame Lorna EF Muirhead DBE, presented a cheque for £2,000 towards the restoration of the church.