New plans for church built after WW2 bombing prayer

A chapel built in thanks for Blackpool largely avoiding being bombed during World War Two is to be turned into a mental health centre.

Grade II-listed Thanksgiving Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, in Whinney Heys Road, was built between 1955 and 1957.

Bishop Thomas E Flynn had prayed to Our Lady of Lourdes to protect the diocese from bombing during the 1939-1945 war.

An application has now been put to Blackpool Council by mental health services provider Cygnet, which wants to turn the closed church into a 35-bed centre for patients.

The church was saved from demolition in 1999, but there have been no services there since.

The plans would join the church to neighbouring Cygnet Newton House, which is a 21-bed specialist high-support inpatient rehabilitation service for adult men with complex mental health issues.

One person has objected since the planning application was lodged four months ago.

Architects and heritage consultants Buttress said: "The design approach prioritises heritage preservation, whilst introducing contemporary interventions that respect the building's architectural significance and provide functional spaces for provision of mental health services. "

The designs include therapy spaces, a kitchen, family room and staff meeting areas.

The shrine church was built between 1955 and 1957.

During WW2, Bishop Thomas E Flynn prayed to Our Lady of Lourdes to protect the diocese from bombing.

Blackpool escaped relatively unscathed, and the bishop then had the idea of building a thanksgiving chapel to commemorate this.

It cost £50,000 which is equivalent to more than £1.5m today.

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