St John's Church in Egremont, Wirral, a Grade II listed building described as a "magnificent landmark," has been empty for over two decades. The church, nestled in Central Park, Liscard, since the 1830s, was once one of Merseyside's most impressive places of worship, featuring neoclassical and gothic design with stone pillars. However, declining congregation numbers led to its closure in 2004, and it has remained unused ever since.
Past Plans and Current State
Online reports indicate that planning permission was granted in 2006 to convert the church into flats, but the project never materialized. Currently, no planning applications are listed on Wirral Council's portal. Photos taken inside the church in 2009, reshared online by urban explorer @UrbanEx2U, reveal its grand interior, though the building now shows signs of neglect.
Local Concerns and Campaign
Dean Saunders, 33, from Liscard, launched a Facebook group called "Save St John's Church, Egremont, Wallasey" to advocate for the building's reuse. He fears it may fall into disrepair or become a target for vandals. "It's a landmark in the area. It's a magnificent building. It's got a large capacity. Obviously, it's part of our heritage," Saunders said. He believes the church could host community events, but the owner, Richard John Bendrey, disputes its readiness.
Saunders added: "I'm in a band. We used to practice at the Park View Social Club, overlooking the church. I always thought what a shame that it was just sitting there in ruins." He claims Bendrey has spent money on roof repairs, making the building potentially usable, but Bendrey is not interested in community use.
Owner's Response and Plans
Richard John Bendrey, who bought the church in 2011, refuted claims of disrepair. "The church is not 'in ruins' or falling into 'a state of disrepair.' We're doing regular maintenance on it, but it needs major work to make it usable," he said. Bendrey plans to form a trust to restore the building as a place of worship. "That is why God led us to buy it, and why we have spent so much time, money and effort on it," he explained.
Bendrey welcomes support for maintenance and can be contacted at stjohnsegremont@gmail.com. He also hopes to set up youth work at a different venue in the future.
Urban Explorer's Perspective
UrbanEx2U, who shared interior photos, called for the building's revival: "It feels very eerie and spooky inside. It's very sad to see the state of it now. I would like to see it being used for a youth centre or even climbing walls there."
The future of St John's Church remains uncertain, with competing visions for its use. Dean's campaign continues to gather support online, urging the community to get involved.
