At a time of a rapidly expanding Liverpool the church enjoyed weekly congregations of 700+ and developed various thriving ‘clubs’ including a Literary Society holding regular ‘lantern lectures’ from 1881, 43^rd Company Boys Brigade began in 1906 and the Girl Guides in 1930.  In 2001 the church and its congregation decided to erect a memorial in honour of those who died in the Ernest Brown Junior Instructional Centre ‘Durning Road Bombing’ of 1941. A wonderful glass plaque containing 150 names of those who died was sited inside the church and has now been erected at Kensington Junior School in Brae Street.

Over its 125 years the church had much to do in terms of maintenance and in 2002 it was estimated that £500,000 would be needed to bring it back into a state of good repair. Sadly on Feb 6^th 2006 the church was advised that immediate vacation was required on Health & Safety grounds. The 125^th Anniversary services were subsequently held at Brae St School.  Having been have been left isolated and vulnerable for many years, in 2013 the church was to be converted into student accommodation with architects saying ‘we will keep many historic features within the church as possible’.

Much of the above information was researched and edited by Rex Stevens, from an excellent book at Liverpool Central Library Archives: ‘A History of St Cyprian’s Church, Edge Hill, Liverpool 1881 - 2006’ compiled by Albert W Gregory J.P. The building is now going through a major redevelopement and turning its use to student accomadation. 

Photograph : Brian Sayle