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Sunday December 2nd 2007 was the 300th anniversary of the arrival in Liverpool of the first Catholic priest to take up residence there after the Reformation. Fr William Gillibrand SJ moved from Crosby Hall to a room above a grocer’s shop in, what is now, North John Street. From here he celebrated Mass for the small number of Catholics then living in the city. |
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To mark the anniversary, a small shrine dedicated to St Mary del Quay – the name of the first church in Liverpool – situated behind the main altar in the Lady Chapel (the chapel of St Mary of the Angels and St Joseph) was blessed after the 10.15am Mass The shrine depicts Our Lady holding the Liver Bird. She is standing in a shell, which is a symbol of pilgrimage and denotes that the church is always a ‘Pilgrim Church’. The shell is supported by an eagle, the symbol of King John who granted Liverpool its first charter 800 years ago this year. This in turn is resting on a quay above the River Mersey. In the background are carved images of Liverpool’s two cathedrals
The side doors have symbols of the Society of Jesus - to which Fr Gillibrand belonged - and a carving of the shop in North John Street above which Fr Gillibrand is depicted saying Mass. |
The shrine was designed and carved by Bernard Blackburn. He lives with his wife next to the Carmelite Monastery in Upholland and has produced many statues and shrines throughout the country. It was unveiled by Bishop Tom Williams, auxiliary in Liverpool; representatives of the Blundell family, of Crosby Hall, and the Anglican Rector of Liverpool, Rev Steven Brookes, joined us for the event. The seven-times removed niece of Fr Gillibrand, Pam Ashcroft, heard about the project and was also there. |
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