The Dome of Home Restoring the Past & Building Our Future
Saturday 7th November at 1.30pm, The Hollins Hey Hotel New Brighton, CH45 0JY Tickets available free of charge on EventBrite
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Why do you want me to come along? Are you interested in Beauty? Romance? History? Art? Architecture? Theology? Music? You might just be interested in following a career in one of these areas. Discover our fascinating new film and see how we have been restoring our magnificent landmark church to make its treasures accessible for all. What will I discover? Peace, beauty, sanctuary to escape the rat-race.
Why should I go? This is a church for everyone, whether you appreciate the enormity of the building, the stunning marble, the 19th Century Portuguese statues, the modern history, beautiful & meaningful liturgy, or just want to get involved with a successful project.
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What is different about The Dome? An oasis, the Dome is open all day for everyone. It isn’t a parish church with geographical boundaries but a Shrine church for the whole diocese and beyond. A traditional, international order of young priests, The Institute of Christ the King, has been appointed to care for and restore the church. They sing Gregorian chant and say the Latin Mass. Why do people go there – what’s the particular attraction? We have about 50 volunteers who work at the church for the restoration and to welcome heritage visitors with guided tours. We are completing our second restoration project so people can see the progress of the work. People are attracted to the quiet inside the church so that they can discover their spiritual side and worship God. People like the Latin worship, the language of God. 5
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Why was such a large church built there? During the early 20th century, New Brighton was a booming tourist town and the small parish church wasn’t big enough to accommodate. Fr Mullins, the rector had ambitions for a cathedral-like domed church to reflect the proposed Lutyens design of Liverpool, similar to Lisbon’s Basilica de Estrela where he studied at the English College. What makes this building important? Built during the depression in 1935, it was nicknamed ‘The Dome of Home’ by seafarers escaping The Battle of the Atlantic. As the magnificent copper dome appeared on the horizon, they knew they were safe from U-boat attack.
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Why have you made a film? Since 2014, Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded two grants for Restoration Projects. They are keen that we find out more about the heritage associated with this building including individual personal histories. They want us to tell more people about the work
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going on here, so they suggested we make a film as part of the project. Where is it? A landmark church, the Dome stands on the highest point in New Brighton, Wirral (CH45 9LT). Transport is easy by rail on the
Who did you commission to make this film? For the past 10 years, local film maker Adam Tallon (talovision@gmail.com) has been making entertainment and corporate films, together with running workshops for young people. He began filming the Dome in June and particularly enjoyed mastering the drone for the exceptional aerial shots in the film. Special thanks to Pauline Donigan for her help as volunteer ‘sound man’.
Wirral Line to New Brighton, with a 5-minute walk up Atherton Street. Car parking is available. The film launch is at the Hollins Hey Hotel (CH45 0JY), which is a 2-minute walk from the railway station, in New Brighton, on the way to the church. There is a small car park from Albion Street or roadside parking.
How long will it last? The film itself will last 30 minutes but we have two short 10 minute presentations; one from an eminent architectural historian, Peter de Figueiredo with an introduction to basilicas, and our conservation architect will speak about this restoration project. This will be followed by a tour to see the building works for yourself. 9
Who are the Institute? Founded in 1990 with the encouragement of several Cardinals, the Institute of Christ the King (ICKSP) are a young, order of priests who have their house of formation near Florence, Italy and many churches around the world, including Gabon, France, Ireland, Sweden, USA and England. The seminary is full but this year, 18 new seminarians joined, from all over the world. They also have 3 houses of sisters, the Adorers of the Royal Heart, in support of their missions in the Church. Why do they dress in cassocks? Cassocks are a kind of uniform so that people can recognize them. Who’s in charge? Mgr Wach, a French priest is the superior, directly answerable to the Pope in Rome. They have 85 priests with an average age of 40 and around 80 seminarians their twenties. Why is the Institute relevant to today’s world? As an attractive, young order, with many young men and women who are discerning a vocation, they are characterized by their positivity and smiles. They follow the example of St Benedict (working in the community), St Thomas Aquinas (studying and education) and St Francis de Sales (doing everything sweetly with charity)
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Film Premiere: The Dome of Home
Restoring the Past and Building Our Future Enjoy the fascinating film launch, telling the story of this Grade II listed, iconic New Brighton landmark church. The film includes memories from its birth in 1933 to its restoration projects in 2015, funded by Heritage Lottery Fund. Meet the VIP’s who share their bygone years. Watch our ‘Flying Canon’ as he inspects the building works, surveys the Dome and even welcomes the ‘Hairy Biker/Builder’! 1.30pm
Arrival at Hollins Hey Hotel
2pm
‘An innovative, interwar basilica’ by Peter de Figueiredo
2.15pm
‘A conservation architect’s work at The Dome’ by Adrian Swain
2.30pm
Introduction to our film-maker, Adam Tallon and VIP guests by Lee Jones.
2.45pm
Film premiere
3.45pm
Tour of building works at The Dome
www.domeofhome.org contactus@domeofhome.org 12