Dr Brown's Invitation
The prospect of a Passionist foundation in Liverpool was first raised in the earliest years of the mission in England. When Blessed Dominic Barberi faced difficulties securing the community's first London house from a reluctant landlord, he made clear he had alternatives. The Annals record his position:
"…if he could not remain there he would go to Liverpool, where he had been already invited by Dr Brown to found a retreat in his diocese."
The invitation had been issued during a retreat Fr Dominic gave to the clergy of the Lancashire District at Bishop Eaton in June 1847. Dr Brown, Bishop of the District, made a formal promise to provide a house for the Congregation in his diocese.
Source: Annals of the Anglo-Hibernian Province, 1842–48. Provincial Archive.
Fr Ignatius Spencer in Liverpool, January 1849
In early 1849, with the community now established at several English houses, Fr Dominic sent Fr Ignatius Spencer to Liverpool to ask the Bishop to honour his promise. The Annals give a full account:
"In the beginning of January 1849 Father Ignatius (Spencer) was sent to Liverpool by Father Dominic for the purpose of asking Dr Brown, then the Bishop of the district, whether he would give us a house in his diocese, according to a promise to that effect which his Lordship had already made to Father Dominic in the month of June 1847, when the same Father Dominic gave the retreat to the clergy of the diocese at Bishop Eaton. Father Ignatius arrived in Liverpool on 9 January and spent the evening with the Bishop at his residence 'Bishop Eaton', and they spoke over the affair."
Source: Annals of the Anglo-Hibernian Province, 1849–51. Provincial Archive.
The Original Plan Relinquished
At that meeting the Bishop informed Fr Ignatius that the original scheme for a Liverpool church and mission could not proceed:
"Dr Brown said that there were risen some difficulties concerning the church and mission which he had originally in view for the Passionists and about which his Lordship had a long talk with Father Dominic, but that plan must be relinquished."
The Bishop was nonetheless determined to have the Passionists in his district and proposed an alternative: coastal land at Southport, belonging to a Mr Weld Blundell of Ince, who was anxious to see a religious establishment on his property. The Annals record Fr Dominic's response:
"Mr. Weld Blundell, of Ince, said the Bishop, had property near Southport, on the sea coast of Lancashire, and was anxious to have a religious establishment there… The idea of building a new house in the present circumstances was not entertained by Father Dominic."
Fr Ignatius nevertheless travelled to Ince Blundell to meet Mr Weld, but no agreement could be reached: there was no suitable existing building, and the community's need at that moment was for a house already built to receive expected refugees from France.
Source: Annals of the Anglo-Hibernian Province, 1849–51. Provincial Archive.
From Liverpool to Sutton
While Fr Ignatius was still in Liverpool, he was introduced by Fr Abraham, Pastor of Blackbrook Church, to a Mr John Smith of Sutton, who intended to build a church on his property near St Helens. Negotiations followed; Fr Dominic came to inspect the site; and the foundation was agreed. The Annals describe the outcome:
"The last foundation is that affected at Sutton (24 March, 1850) near Saint Helen's, a short distance from the large and populous town of Liverpool (15 miles). Our Fathers did not go to stay permanently at Sutton till 23 November of the same year. The church is dedicated to Saint Anne, and together with the house, was built by John Smith esq., who in pursuance of the deceased Father Dominic's advice transfered the property to five Legatees, including the Bishop of the Diocese."
Source: Annals of the Anglo-Hibernian Province, 1849–51. Provincial Archive.
The XIX General Chapter: Liverpool (Sutton)
When the XIX General Chapter in Rome formally erected the new Anglo-Belgian Province of St Joseph, the Sutton house was listed under the name of the diocese it had been intended to serve. The decree read:
"In accordance with the suggestion of the Very Reverend Father General the Chapter issued the following decree 'with regard to England, it has been decreed: First, that the Retreats of Aston Hall, Broadway, London, Cotton Hall, and Liverpool (Sutton)… shall form the "fourth" Province of the Congregation.'"
The designation Liverpool (Sutton) preserved in the official record the original intention of a Liverpool foundation, while acknowledging the house that had actually been built.
Source: Annals of the Anglo-Hibernian Province, 1849–51. Provincial Archive.
St Anne's Retreat and the Diocese of Liverpool
Though the house was situated at Sutton, near St Helens, its connection with the Diocese of Liverpool endured throughout its history. Ordinations took place at St Anne's under the authority of the Archbishop of Liverpool. The obituary of Fr Fabian Grogan CP records that he and his fellow students were ordained at St Anne's on 18 September 1926 — a ceremony conducted under the auspices of the Liverpool Diocese, as had been the case for many ordinations held there.
For the full history of St Anne's Retreat as a Passionist community and apostolic centre, see the Sutton page.
Sources: Obituary of Fr Fabian Grogan CP (Provincial Archive); Annals of the Anglo-Hibernian Province, 1849–51 (Provincial Archive).